Russia has exchanged jailed French researcher Laurent Vinatier for Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin, who had been held in France, Russian state media reported on Thursday, January 8th, citing the FSB security service.
Kasatkin, a Russian citizen, had been detained in France after U.S. authorities requested his extradition. As part of the deal, he was returned to Russia.
Vinatier, 49, had been serving a three-year prison sentence in Russia and was also facing new espionage charges that could have resulted in an additional 20 years behind bars.
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