A French researcher, Laurent Vinatier, imprisoned in Russia for violating foreign agent laws, has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia exchanging him for Daniil Kasatkin, a Russian basketball player wanted in the United States over alleged ransomware involvement.

Vinatier served as an adviser to the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, which had been assisting his case since 2024.

Upon arrival in Paris, Vinatier was welcomed at the Quai d’Orsay by France’s foreign minister and his parents.

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The sequence of events and negotiations spanned several weeks, leading to the resolution.

Live updates touch on broader Ukraine-related developments and Western responses to security guarantees, including comments from German and Ukrainian leaders.

French government statements and coverage from major outlets are cited regarding the case.

Human rights critics view Russia’s foreign agent and related laws as part of a broader crackdown on dissent and independent media amid the Ukraine war.

Activists have criticized the foreign agent framework as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.

Russian officials warned that foreign military units and facilities would be treated as legitimate military targets.

Earlier discussions among European and US officials contemplated security guarantees for Kyiv, including monitoring mechanisms and multinational forces, which Moscow rejected.

Context implies a rare diplomatic swap, though specific names and institutions aren’t detailed in the excerpt.