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Russians pardoned in Lithuania paving way for spy swap Spy swap: Five freed in Russia-Lithuania-Norway exchange
(about 3 hours later)
Two Russians jailed for espionage have been pardoned by the president of Lithuania. It could clear the way for Russia to release two Lithuanians and a Norwegian in a spy swap. Two Russians jailed for espionage have been pardoned and freed in Lithuania, in exchange for two Lithuanians and a Norwegian held in Russia.
Russia said hours later that it would respond in kind to the Lithuanian announcement. Lithuania's head of state security announced the three-way swap had taken place at the Lithuanian border after a complex operation.
For weeks, Norway, Russia and Lithuania have working on a three-way exchange. For weeks, Norway, Russia and Lithuania have been working on the exchange.
Russians Nikolai Filipchenko and Sergei Moisejenko were jailed in the Baltic state two years ago. The best known of the five is Frode Berg, a Norwegian ex-border guard arrested in Moscow in 2017.
Norway has been trying to secure the release of Frode Berg, who was arrested in Moscow in 2017. His case became a cause celebre in Norway after he was found with naval documents handed to him by a former Russian policeman.
His case has become a cause celebre in Norway after the retired border guard, who had served on Norway's border with Russia, was found with naval documents handed to him by a former Russian policeman. Russians Nikolai Filipchenko and Sergei Moisejenko were jailed in Lithuania two years ago.
Lithuania also has two men in Russian jails who have been convicted of spying. Yevgeny Mataitis and Aristidas Tamosaitis were jailed in 2016. Lithuania was a former Soviet republic but since independence in 1990 has joined the EU and Nato. The Lithuanians, Yevgeny Mataitis and Aristidas Tamosaitis, were jailed in 2016. Lithuania was a former Soviet republic but since independence in 1990 has joined the EU and Nato.
Is the spy swap imminent? How did the exchange happen?
The announcement of a pardon for the two Russians by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda was the key to getting the exchange under way. Norwegian reports on Friday said everything was now set. Berg's lawyer, Brynjulf Risnes, revealed on Twitter that the Norwegian was "finally free" after crossing from Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave bordering Lithuania. "I'm in Lithuania and waiting to meet him soon," he added.
The head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, said "according to my information, it is reciprocal measures." The transfer took place at midday (10:00 GMT), according to Lithuanian intelligence head Darius Jauniskis told reporters. The foreign ministry in Oslo confirmed Berg was in Norwegian hands and said he would return to Norway to be reunited with his family.
Lithuania's presidential spokesman said only that further questions would be answered "in the near future". Lithuanian reports said the two Russians and two Lithuanians were part of the same exchange.
Hopes of an exchange increased in late October when Moscow's official pardons commission recommended the Norwegian for pardon and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Norway and promised a decision would come soon. Mr Jauniškis, head of Lithuania's SSD state security, said only that the swap had taken place at one of the country's border control posts and paid tribute to the intelligence officers who had planned and carried out the operation.
The process was then put on hold for several weeks for Lithuania's parliament to change the criminal code to allow the president to pardon spies. Lithuania's state defence council, which is chaired by the president, then approved the swap last week, according to Baltic News Service. How the swap was prepared
"This may happen in one or two days, depending on how quickly practical questions are resolved," Berg's Norwegian lawyer Brynjulf Risnes was quoted as saying. Talk of a three-way exchange first surfaced last month when Moscow's official pardons commission recommended the Norwegian for pardon and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Norway and promised a decision would come soon.
The process was then put on hold for several weeks for Lithuania's parliament to change the criminal code to allow the president to pardon the two Russian spies.
Lithuania's state defence council, which is chaired by the president, then approved the swap last week, according to Baltic News Service.
Early on Friday Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced the two men had been pardoned. It was a signal that the operation was under way and the head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, said "reciprocal measures" would take place.
Who are the five involved?Who are the five involved?
Russians: Nikolai Filipchenko - FSB security service agent was given 10 years for trying to recruit senior Lithuanians; Sergei Moisejenko was given 10 years for recruiting a Lithuanian army officer serving at Siauliai military base.Russians: Nikolai Filipchenko - FSB security service agent was given 10 years for trying to recruit senior Lithuanians; Sergei Moisejenko was given 10 years for recruiting a Lithuanian army officer serving at Siauliai military base.
Norwegian: Frode Berg - retired border guard admitted acting as a courier for Norwegian intelligence but denied spying.Norwegian: Frode Berg - retired border guard admitted acting as a courier for Norwegian intelligence but denied spying.
Lithuanians: Ex-naval officer Yevgeny Mataitis is a dual Russian-Lithuanian citizen who served in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. He was given 13 years for selling secrets to Lithuanian intelligence.Lithuanians: Ex-naval officer Yevgeny Mataitis is a dual Russian-Lithuanian citizen who served in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. He was given 13 years for selling secrets to Lithuanian intelligence.
Aristidas Tamosaitis was jailed for 12 years after he was detained in Moscow in 2015 for receiving secrets from a Russian citizen. Where do spy swaps take place?
How will the exchange take place?
The three-way nature of the swap makes the process more complicated, although it could take place at the same place.
During the Cold War, exchanges took place at the Glienicke Bridge between East and West Berlin.During the Cold War, exchanges took place at the Glienicke Bridge between East and West Berlin.
Since the end of the Cold War, spy swaps have become rare events. Since the end of the Cold War, spy swaps have become rare events. The last big one, in 2010, took place at Vienna airport, when 10 Russian agents were flown in from the US and swapped for four Americans convicted in Russia.
The last big one, in 2010, took place at Vienna airport, when 10 Russian agents were flown in from the US and swapped for four Americans convicted in Russia.
But there have been smaller swaps on a bridge between Russia and Estonia. In 2015, an Estonian security official who the EU said was abducted by Russia was swapped for a man imprisoned in Estonia for spying for Moscow.But there have been smaller swaps on a bridge between Russia and Estonia. In 2015, an Estonian security official who the EU said was abducted by Russia was swapped for a man imprisoned in Estonia for spying for Moscow.
When the US released convicted Russian agent Maria Butina last month, she was deported straight back to Moscow.When the US released convicted Russian agent Maria Butina last month, she was deported straight back to Moscow.