Recently (Present perfect & Past simple)

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Through many grammar books I know the “keyword” recently can be used
with both the past simple and present perfect. When it is used in both tenses,
for instance,

(a) I [u]saw[/u] Tohir recently.
(b) I [u]have seen[/u] Tohir recently.

is there any difference in meaning?

2

in (a) there is no connection with the present but in (b) there is connection with the present