Basketball player Kasatkin's lawyer reported on the use of his computer by fraudsters

Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin, who was detained in France at the request of the United States, is probably accused of extortion due to the use of his computer by intruders. His lawyer, Frederic Belo, told Izvestia about this.

"Kasatkin considers himself an accidental victim of acts of computer hacking that affected hundreds of Americans. He understands that his computer is apparently one of several computers used by these hackers," he explained.

According to the defender, the athlete bought a used computer with his own hands during his student years. He could not understand that the device was being used by scammers due to his poor knowledge of cybersecurity, Belo noted.

"Kasatkin can only use Google and nothing else, so he was completely unable to detect that his computer was the target of an attack and that malware for remote control was installed on it. You must understand that this can happen to any of us," the lawyer stressed.

Belo added that the basketball player intends to challenge the charges against him. The defense filed a motion for his release, but the guarantees and bail were considered insufficient. The athlete is ready to cooperate with the American authorities to prove his innocence.

"As soon as an American warrant is provided, the [French] investigative authorities will decide whether to extradite Kasatkin. But the decision will be made by the French government, which will determine whether to accept or reject this arrest warrant. We can appeal this decision to the French administrative authorities, to the French Council of State," said the defender, adding that the specific timing of the transfer of the order is not yet known.

Belo insisted that Kasatkin be given access to a gym at the detention facility.

"He's 26 years old, and it's absolutely necessary for him. Unfortunately, he has already lost 6 kg in two weeks, because, of course, this is an extremely stressful situation. Imagine, he proposed to his fiancee, came to Paris to celebrate this event. And there he is arrested by the French police. <...> Mr. Kasatkin is going through a nightmare, but he is coping. He is a man with a will of steel, ready to fight to be recognized as a victim and acquitted," the lawyer concluded.

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The newspaper Le Monde reported on July 9 that Kasatkin was detained on June 21 at the request of the United States. It was clarified that the American side suspects him of membership in a hacker network that operated using ransomware. The arrest took place at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, where the athlete arrived with his fiancee. It is noted that Kasatkin does not admit guilt.

According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Embassy in Paris is dealing with the issue of Kasatkin's detention. Later, his lawyer, Vladimir Sarukhanov, stated that the athlete is currently in an isolation ward.