Arrested Russian professional basketball player, accused of belonging to a ransomware group, attorney asserted that his client possesses poor computer skills and struggles to even install an application.

In a surprising turn of events, Russian professional basketball player Daniil Kasatkin found himself under the scrutiny of French authorities on June 21, 2022, at Charles de Gaulle Airport. The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Kasatkin of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and computer fraud conspiracy, allegedly being a part of a ransomware gang between 2020 and 2022.

The extradition proceedings for Kasatkin are currently underway in France. However, the U.S. has not yet initiated extradition proceedings for the basketball player. The timeline for his potential transfer from France to the U.S. is contingent upon the U.S. Department of Justice's actions.

France has approximately 60 days to receive necessary documents from the U.S. Department of Justice for the extradition proceedings of Kasatkin. As of July 8, 2022, the U.S. has not yet provided the required documents for the extradition of Kasatkin to France.

Kasatkin denies all charges against him. His lawyer, Fredéric Belot, stated that Kasatkin bought a second-hand computer and did not touch it, suggesting it was either hacked or the hacker sold it to him. Another lawyer claimed that Kasatkin is being tagged as a negotiator for the ransomware gang, but Kasatkin has an "ironclad alibi" against the accusation.

The ransomware gang, of which Kasatkin is allegedly a member, is reportedly affiliated with a Russian cybercriminal organization. The gang targeted around 900 companies and organizations, including two U.S. federal agencies. Ransomware negotiators, such as Kasatkin, are a specialized staff within a ransomware gang that talks with victims and gets them to pay up.

Before his arrest, Kasatkin studied in the U.S. from 2016 to 2019 and played for Penn State University from 2018 to 2019. After returning to Russia, he played for the MBA-MAI professional basketball team, which competes in the VTB United League and the Russian Basketball Cup. Kasatkin left the MBA-MAI team on July 3, more than a week after his arrest.

On July 8, a French court decided to keep Kasatkin in detention while awaiting extradition proceedings. The U.S. has not yet released a statement about Kasatkin's arrest. The extradition proceedings for Kasatkin are being handled by French authorities, and the timeline for the extradition of Kasatkin from France to the U.S. is subject to the production of necessary documents by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Arrested Russian professional basketball player, accused of belonging to a ransomware group, attorney asserted that his client possesses poor computer skills and struggles to even install an application.