Release of Laurent Vinatier and Daniil Kasatkin, 8 January 2026

On 8 January 2026, Mr Laurent Vinatier was granted a pardon by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the offences for which he was being prosecuted. He was released and returned to France.

At the same time, Daniil Kasatkin, a Russian basketball player arrested in France under an extradition warrant from the United States for computer fraud, was sent back to Russia.

We welcome their release.

This case has been widely reported in the French and international media.

On the investigation and pending trial of Mr Laurent Vinatier in Russia

https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20251126-chercheur-fran%C3%A7ais-d%C3%A9tenu-en-russie-enqu%C3%AAte-pour-espionnage-prolong%C3%A9e-possible-proc%C3%A8s-le-28-f%C3%A9vrier

https://www.sudouest.fr/international/russie/detention-de-laurent-vinatier-en-russie-l-enquete-pour-espionnage-prolongee-un-proces-possible-en-fevrier-26862565.php

https://www.bfmtv.com/international/asie/russie/laurent-vinatier-emprisonne-en-russie-l-enquete-pour-espionnage-le-visant-prolongee-un-possible-proces-le-28-fevrier_AD-202511260587.html

https://42mag.fr/2026/01/laurent-vinatier-liberation-possible-chercheur-en-russie-pourrait-etre-juge-pour-espionnage/

https://www.bienpublic.com/politique/2025/11/26/l-enquete-pour-espionnage-visant-le-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-prolongee

https://www.nouvelobs.com/monde/20251028.OBS109198/accuse-d-espionnage-le-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-est-il-otage-des-mauvaises-relations-franco-russes.html

https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/11/26/l-enquete-pour-espionnage-visant-le-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-detenu-en-russie-est-prolongee_6654896_3210.html

https://www.liberation.fr/international/europe/russie-deja-condamne-une-premiere-fois-le-francais-laurent-vinatier-pourrait-etre-juge-fin-fevrier-pour-espionnage-20251126_C42HLRE6FRH6ZDDURCGBEZFV7I/

On the submission of a proposal to France, according to Mr Peskov, spokesperson and press secretary to the President of the Russian Federation:

https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/international/article/la-mere-de-laurent-vinatier-chercheur-prisonnier-en-russie-evoque-deux-pistes-pour-sa-liberation_258612.html

https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/nous-sommes-pleins-d-espoir-mais-c-est-un-espoir-prudent-l-avocat-de-laurent-vinatier-se-confie-au-figaro-20251225

https://www.liberation.fr/international/europe/chercheur-francais-emprisonne-en-russie-moscou-dit-avoir-fait-une-proposition-a-la-france-20251225_XKNRCOUYBNCAZCFJDGSBVR4FAI/

https://www.tf1info.fr/international/videos/video-liberation-de-laurent-vinatier-l-interpellation-de-poutine-par-un-journaliste-de-tf1-un-des-moments-publics-les-plus-importants-73064-2417530.html

https://www.lamontagne.fr/paris-75000/actualites/le-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-emprisonne-en-russie-bientot-libere-la-balle-est-dans-le-camp-de-la-france-maintenant_14805229/

https://www.lexpress.fr/societe/russie-le-francais-laurent-vinatier-pourrait-etre-juge-en-fevrier-pour-espionnage-75B7AL7CZFALZAJPV5SYB4R2VU/

https://www.la-croix.com/macron-pleinement-mobilise-pour-obtenir-la-liberation-de-laurent-vinatier-le-plus-rapidement-possible-20251225

https://www.leparisien.fr/international/laurent-vinatier-detenu-en-russie-moscou-a-fait-une-proposition-a-la-france-25-12-2025-LXM3JNKLARF4VLOYIYVPYFM45U.php

https://www.franceinfo.fr/monde/russie/vladimir-poutine/apres-l-annonce-de-vladimir-poutine-de-se-pencher-sur-le-dossier-du-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-emprisonne-en-russie-son-avocat-en-france-y-voit-un-element-d-espoir_7690774.html

https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/a-la-une/le-kremlin-a-fait-une-proposition-a-paris-concernant-laurent-vinatier-le-chercheur-francais-emprisonne-en-russie-1766661348

https://www.laprovence.com/article/france-monde/1505637187065715/la-famille-du-chercheur-francais-emprisonne-en-russie-espere-une-liberation-pendant-les-fetes-de-fin-dannee

https://www.franceinfo.fr/monde/russie/vladimir-poutine/espoir-de-liberation-de-laurent-vinatier-ce-serait-une-sorte-de-miracle-de-noel-reagit-sa-mere-apres-la-proposition-de-la-russie-a-la-france_7702027.html

https://www.lalibre.be/international/europe/2025/12/25/moscou-dit-avoir-fait-une-proposition-a-paris-pour-le-chercheur-francais-emprisonne-NU2URQB2E5BGZMSURACAAFX3BI/

https://www.courrier-picard.fr/id684947/article/2025-12-25/la-russie-veut-negocier-la-liberation-du-francais-laurent-vinatier-emprisonne

Radio

https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinfo/podcasts/les-documents-franceinfo/detention-de-laurent-vinatier-en-russie-nous-avons-un-espoir-prudent-de-liberation-affirme-son-avocat-1727321

On the release of Mr Laurent Vinatier and Mr Daniil Kasatkin on 8 January 2026

TV

LCI https://www.tf1info.fr/international/videos/video-laurent-vinatier-libere-l-avocat-du-chercheur-francais-sur-lci-32737-2417527.html

LCI  https://www.tf1info.fr/international/videos/video-liberation-de-laurent-vinatier-l-interpellation-de-poutine-par-un-journaliste-de-tf1-un-des-moments-publics-les-plus-importants-73064-2417530.html

LCI https://www.tf1info.fr/international/chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-libere-qui-est-daniil-kasatkin-le-basketteur-hacker-russe-qui-a-servi-de-monnaie-d-echange-2417502.html

LCI https://www.facebook.com/24hPujadas/videos/%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8Finternational-moscou-lib%C3%A8re-lotage-laurent-vinatieranalyses-et-d%C3%A9cryptages-de/1953786908533293/

LCI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfVCmLtyTFU

LCI https://www.facebook.com/LCI.fr1/videos/laurent-vinatier-lib%C3%A9r%C3%A9-premi%C3%A8re-r%C3%A9action-de-son-avocat-sur-lci/2126639761408972/

LCI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwk94PLgxVo

LCI https://www.facebook.com/LCI.fr1/videos/moscou-libe%CC%80re-lotage-laurent-vinatier/2028564944660258/

France Info : https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTQnYWblL2L/

France Info https://www.facebook.com/faireensemblemag/videos/laurent-vinatier-est-libre-le-soulagement-de-sa-famille/863928059866144/

France Info https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RdZOu-fgsvM

France 2 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTQyyd1DU1s/

https://x.com/RTenfrancais/status/2009369976658862464

https://www.ouest-france.fr/europe/russie/video-les-images-de-la-liberation-du-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-par-la-russie-99614994-0ffc-4e81-aa82-909e24e3eac7

M6  https://www.instagram.com/reels/DTQkwHckkBB/

Le Parisien https://www.tiktok.com/@leparisien/video/7593021570042350870

TV5 Monde – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=addjQo-6bFA

French Press:

https://www.franceinfo.fr/monde/russie/liberation-de-laurent-vinatier-on-s-est-beaucoup-battus-avec-ses-parents-pour-qu-il-ne-soit-pas-oublie-assure-l-avocat-de-la-famille-du-chercheur-francais_7728634.html

https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/fil-dactualites/080126/liberation-de-vinatier-un-immense-soulagement-salue-l-avocat-de-ses-parents

https://www.leparisien.fr/international/cest-une-surprise-totale-la-liberation-de-laurent-vinatier-un-secret-bien-garde-08-01-2026-ZXHY2UXCANDZHOBED4EZPNFWIY.php

https://www.intelligenceonline.fr/europe-russie/2026/01/20/entre-diplomatie-secrete-de-la-dgse-et-mediation-d-un-avocat-les-dessous-de-la-liberation-de-laurent-vinatier,110604007-eve?__cf_chl_rt_tk=HmngscLBY0x4D32YEV8Hwl8TExXo_oMJ3Wxw9vd8Nsc-1772286894-1.0.1.1-o6NPv45EpMwfUyI3LHLbW84cfNYVboS62sB18JhJYzs

https://www.courrierinternational.com/article/vu-de-russie-le-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-libere-par-moscou-en-echange-d-un-basketteur-russe_239132

https://www.liberation.fr/international/europe/russie-le-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-a-ete-libere-20260108_KWZGQNLX4FBBHGZMWXGVWOO65U/

https://www.midilibre.fr/2026/01/08/laurent-vinatier-libere-le-chercheur-francais-a-ete-relache-en-echange-dun-basketteur-russe-detenu-en-france-13150580.php

https://www.humanite.fr/monde/russie/emprisonne-en-russie-depuis-plus-dun-an-le-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-sera-t-il-libere-pour-les-fetes

https://www.franceinfo.fr/monde/russie/laurent-vinatier-libere-par-la-russie-le-chercheur-francais-de-retour-en-france-a-retrouve-ses-proches_7728904.html

https://lactualite.com/actualites/la-russie-libere-un-politologue-francais-dans-le-cadre-dun-echange-de-prisonniers/

https://information.tv5monde.com/international/liberation-du-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-en-echange-dun-basketteur-russe-detenu-en-france-2804526

https://www.lesechos.fr/monde/europe/libere-des-prisons-russes-le-francais-laurent-vinatier-a-ete-echange-contre-un-sportif-russe-accuse-de-hacking-2208550

https://www.sudouest.fr/international/russie/laurent-vinatier-libere-en-russie-qui-est-le-basketteur-russe-echange-contre-le-chercheur-francais-27339334.php

https://www.parismatch.com/actu/international/russie-le-chercheur-francais-laurent-vinatier-echange-avec-un-basketteur-russe-et-libere-de-prison-262645

https://www.lindependant.fr/2026/01/08/il-etait-venu-a-paris-pour-celebrer-ses-fiancailles-qui-est-daniil-kasatkin-le-basketteur-russe-echange-avec-laurent-vinatier-et-qui-risque-25-ans-de-13150767.php

https://www.20minutes.fr/monde/russie/4195076-20260108-liberation-laurent-vinatier-daniil-kasatkin-prisonnier-russe-echange-france

https://www.facebook.com/M6info/videos/les-images-de-la-lib%C3%A9ration-de-laurent-vinatier/1912910526326323/

https://www.rtl.fr/actu/international/qui-est-daniil-kasatkin-le-basketteur-russe-echange-contre-laurent-vinatier-7900586565

https://www.nouvelobs.com/monde/20260108.OBS111316/le-chercheur-laurent-vinatier-est-rentre-en-france-apres-sa-liberation-de-russie.html

https://ch.zonebourse.com/actualite-bourse/la-russie-libere-le-chercheur-francais-vinatier-dans-le-cadre-d-un-echange-de-prisonniers-ce7e59dddc8ffe20

https://www.letelegramme.fr/france/le-chercheur-laurent-vinatier-libere-en-echange-dun-basketteur-russe-detenu-en-france-6958816.php

https://www.bebasket.fr/daniil-kasatkin-echange-contre-laurent-vinatier-le-basketteur-russe-libere-apres-six-mois-de-detention-en-france

International Press:

https://www.notretemps.com/depeches/retour-en-france-du-chercheur-francais-vinatier-echange-contre-un-basketteur-russe-126388

https://www.rtbf.be/article/la-russie-libere-le-chercheur-francais-vinatier-en-echange-du-basketteur-russe-daniil-kasatkin-11658407

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/8/russia-frees-french-political-scholar-swap-basketball-player/

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/3171618/russia-releases-french-researcher-in-prisoner-exchange

https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2026/01/08/russia-releases-french-political-scientist-in-exchange-for-basketball-player-in-custody-in-france-en-news

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/01/08/french-researcher-back-in-france-after-prisoner-swap-with-russia-a91632

https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20260108-russia-frees-french-researcher-laurent-vinatier-in-prisoner-swap

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/world/europe/france-russia-prisoner-swap.html

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260108-russia-releases-french-researcher-in-prisoner-exchange-1

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/8/russia-releases-french-researcher-in-prisoner-exchange

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2026/01/08/france-releases-russian-man-wanted-in-us-for-cyberhacking-lawyer-says-

https://apnews.com/article/russia-french-scholar-released-prisoner-exchange-kasatkin-447ff50c13c42d74ea75b050c115f62d

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/russia-frees-french-researcher-prisoner-exchange-rcna253009

https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-frees-french-researcher-vinatier-prison-state-media-says-2026-01-08/

https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/09/alleged_russian_ransom_payment_negotiator/

https://whtc.com/2026/01/08/russia-frees-french-researcher-vinatier-in-prisoner-exchange-state-media-says/

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-01-08/russia-frees-french-researcher-vinatier-from-prison-state-media-says

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-08/russia-swaps-french-citizen-for-basketball-player-tass-says

https://fr.euronews.com/2026/01/08/la-russie-annonce-la-remise-en-liberte-du-francais-laurent-vinatier

https://www.scworld.com/brief/france-swaps-alleged-ransomware-operative-for-imprisoned-researcher-in-russia

https://x.com/BBCWorld/status/2009287019537519013

https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/International/1642029/french-researcher-freed-from-russia-in-prisoner-exchange

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/8/russia-releases-french-researcher-in-prisoner-exchange