Moscow demands access to Russian basketball player held in France

MOSCOW, July 10 (Reuters) - Russia's embassy in Paris on Thursday demanded consular access to a Russian basketball player, Daniil Kasatkin, whose lawyer said was detained in France at the request of the United States on suspicion of being part of a hacking network.

"The embassy is dealing with the situation related to the detention of Russian citizen Daniil Kasatkin in France," the embassy said in a statement.

"This is not an isolated case when we are faced with a delay in the issue of consular access to a Russian citizen."

His lawyer, Frederic Belot, said that Kasatkin was detained on June 21.

The United States "suspects him of being part of a hacking network using ransomware against U.S. companies and federal institutions," Belot said, adding that Kasatkin was innocent.

"Mr. Kasatkin is the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice" as he lacked "any computer expertise," he said.

"Kasatkin simply used a second-hand computer he purchased without changing the system username. The account was undoubtedly hacked and was remotely controlled by cybercriminals without Mr. Kasatkin's knowledge," Belot said.