French Researcher Laurent Vinatier Freed in Swap with U.S. Hacking Suspect

On Thursday, Russia announced the release of French researcher Laurent Vinatier in a prisoner swap, over 18 months after his arrest on charges of violating laws related to «foreign agents,» which Paris condemned as unacceptable.

In this exchange, Vinatier was swapped for Daniil Kasatkin, a 26-year-old basketball player apprehended by French authorities last June on U.S. hacking allegations, according to Russia’s FSB.

French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on X, «Our compatriot Laurent Vinatier has returned to France. I share in the relief of his family and loved ones.»

Vinatier was detained in June 2024 while reportedly collecting information about Russia’s military actions, as stated by prosecutors. He subsequently received a three-year sentence for not registering as a «foreign agent» and faced additional espionage charges that could have resulted in a 20-year prison term.

Last month, the Kremlin communicated a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, who was affiliated with a Swiss NGO focused on conflict resolution when he was taken into custody, sparking hope for his release.

State media aired footage of a smiling Vinatier as he exited the prison in black attire with a duffel bag and was later seen boarding a plane. He reportedly arrived in Paris on Thursday, according to a diplomatic source.

The FSB noted that Vinatier was «pardoned» under a presidential decree.

Western nations have long raised concerns that Russia detains their citizens to leverage them as bargaining chips for the release of alleged Russian spies and cybercriminals held in Europe and the U.S.

Kasatkin, who was part of the exchange, was arrested at a Paris airport last year at the behest of the United States. He has been accused of involvement in a ransomware hacking group, a claim he has denied.

Subsequent video from the FSB showed Kasatkin arriving in Russia and getting into a minibus.

Relations between France and Russia have soured significantly since the onset of the war in Ukraine. Moscow has largely attributed blame for the conflict to Paris and other European cities, while France argues that Russia alone bears responsibility and could cease hostilities if it chose to.

An expert on Russia and the former Soviet Union, Vinatier authored over a dozen scholarly articles and had previously worked with NATO and the European Parliament, as indicated in his CV. At the time of his arrest, he was employed by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Swiss organization that facilitates mediation in conflicts outside official diplomatic frameworks, particularly concerning Ukraine.

During his trial, Vinatier expressed remorse and requested a «merciful» sentence, citing the works of Russia’s national poet, Alexander Pushkin.

Frederic Belot, a lawyer for Vinatier’s family, hailed his return on Thursday as a «great relief.» He added, «We are incredibly happy that he has been released just in time for Orthodox Christmas.»