Russian Basketball Star Daniil Kasatkin Arrested in Ransomware Probe

Daniil Kasatkin, a Russian pro basketball player, faces US ransomware charges after his Paris arrest. His lawyer claims he’s “useless with computers,” raising questions about his alleged negotiator role in cybercrime.

Russian professional basketball player Daniil Kasatkin, previously playing for Moscow’s MBA team, was taken into custody last month at Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris. The 26-year-old, standing 6’7″ tall, athlete was arrested upon his arrival with his fiancée (to whom he had just proposed) at the request of American prosecutors.

Authorities suspect him of being a negotiator for a ransomware group, facing charges in the US of “conspiracy to commit computer fraud” and “computer fraud conspiracy.” This criminal operation, still without a public name, is believed to have attacked around 900 organizations, including two US federal government agencies, between 2020 and 2022.

Arrest and Legal Battle

News of Kasatkin’s arrest on June ...