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| Version 15 | Version 16 |
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| US and Russia in Vienna spy swap | US and Russia in Vienna spy swap |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The two planes parked side-by-side at Vienna airport | The two planes parked side-by-side at Vienna airport |
| The US and Russia have taken part in the biggest spy swap since the Cold War, in an exchange at Vienna airport. | The US and Russia have taken part in the biggest spy swap since the Cold War, in an exchange at Vienna airport. |
| One plane brought 10 Russian agents deported from the US after a court hearing at which they admitted being agents for a foreign country. | One plane brought 10 Russian agents deported from the US after a court hearing at which they admitted being agents for a foreign country. |
| The other was said to have brought four people convicted of spying in Russia but given a presidential pardon after they signed to admit their guilt. | The other was said to have brought four people convicted of spying in Russia but given a presidential pardon after they signed to admit their guilt. |
| Both planes took off again after about 90 minutes. | Both planes took off again after about 90 minutes. |
| The Russian Yakovlev Yak-42 plane said to be carrying the four people pardoned by Moscow had landed at Vienna airport at about the same time as the Vision Airlines Boeing 767-200 from New York, carrying the Russian agents. | The Russian Yakovlev Yak-42 plane said to be carrying the four people pardoned by Moscow had landed at Vienna airport at about the same time as the Vision Airlines Boeing 767-200 from New York, carrying the Russian agents. |
| Television pictures showed the two aircraft parked side-by-side on the runway. Covered aircraft stairs were brought up to both planes and none of the agents could be seen being transferred. | Television pictures showed the two aircraft parked side-by-side on the runway. Covered aircraft stairs were brought up to both planes and none of the agents could be seen being transferred. |
| The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says a swap on the runway would mean that no-one had officially entered the country. | The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says a swap on the runway would mean that no-one had officially entered the country. |
| The next destinations of the planes have not been confirmed. | |
| However, a senior Russian official was earlier quoted by Agence France-Presse news agency as saying the Russian agents were expected to arrive back in their homeland on Friday. | |
| The lawyer for nuclear specialist Igor Sutyagin, one of those released by Russia, confirmed that his client had left Moscow, Austrian media said. | |
| Russia's foreign ministry acknowledged the swap, saying it would mean the "return to Russia of 10 Russian citizens accused in the United States, along with the simultaneous transfer to the United States of four individuals previously condemned in Russia". | Russia's foreign ministry acknowledged the swap, saying it would mean the "return to Russia of 10 Russian citizens accused in the United States, along with the simultaneous transfer to the United States of four individuals previously condemned in Russia". |
| 'Conspiracy' | 'Conspiracy' |
| The 10 Russian agents earlier pleaded guilty in New York to "conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country". More serious money laundering charges against them were dropped. | The 10 Russian agents earlier pleaded guilty in New York to "conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country". More serious money laundering charges against them were dropped. |
| Their New York court appearance was the first time they had all appeared in public together since being arrested last month. | Their New York court appearance was the first time they had all appeared in public together since being arrested last month. |
| Prosecutors said the accused had posed as ordinary citizens, some living together as couples for years, and were ordered by Russia's External Intelligence Service (SVR) to infiltrate policy-making circles and collect information. | Prosecutors said the accused had posed as ordinary citizens, some living together as couples for years, and were ordered by Russia's External Intelligence Service (SVR) to infiltrate policy-making circles and collect information. |
| BBC Washington correspondent Kevin Connolly says there is broad agreement in the US that the agents are being deported swiftly because neither government wants this to damage attempts to reset their often prickly relationship. | BBC Washington correspondent Kevin Connolly says there is broad agreement in the US that the agents are being deported swiftly because neither government wants this to damage attempts to reset their often prickly relationship. |
| Court documents revealed the real names of five of the Russians involved: | Court documents revealed the real names of five of the Russians involved: |
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| "Michael Zottoli" and "Patricia Mills" had admitted earlier they were Russian citizens named Mikhail Kutsik and Natalia Pereverzeva, Anna Chapman and Mikhail Semenko had apparently operated in the US under their own names, while Vicky Pelaez was born in Peru. | "Michael Zottoli" and "Patricia Mills" had admitted earlier they were Russian citizens named Mikhail Kutsik and Natalia Pereverzeva, Anna Chapman and Mikhail Semenko had apparently operated in the US under their own names, while Vicky Pelaez was born in Peru. |
| An 11th suspect known as "Christopher Metsos" went missing after being released on bail in Cyprus, where he had been arrested. | An 11th suspect known as "Christopher Metsos" went missing after being released on bail in Cyprus, where he had been arrested. |
| The Kremlin named the four released in Russia as: | The Kremlin named the four released in Russia as: |
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| The US state department said after the hearing that there would be "no significant national security benefit" in sentencing the 10 to lengthy jail terms. | The US state department said after the hearing that there would be "no significant national security benefit" in sentencing the 10 to lengthy jail terms. |
| "The network of unlawful agents operating inside the United States has been dismantled," spokesman Mark Toner said. | "The network of unlawful agents operating inside the United States has been dismantled," spokesman Mark Toner said. |
| "The United States took advantage of the opportunity presented to secure the release of four individuals serving lengthy prison terms in Russia, several of whom were in poor health." | "The United States took advantage of the opportunity presented to secure the release of four individuals serving lengthy prison terms in Russia, several of whom were in poor health." |
| The lawyer for Anna Chapman played down the importance of the Russian group's espionage in the US. | The lawyer for Anna Chapman played down the importance of the Russian group's espionage in the US. |
| Robert Baum told Associated Press: "None of the people involved from my understanding provided any information that couldn't be obtained on the internet." | Robert Baum told Associated Press: "None of the people involved from my understanding provided any information that couldn't be obtained on the internet." |
| A lawyer for Vicky Pelaez, John Rodriguez, said a Russian official had told his client she would receive $2,000 a month for life and free housing in Moscow, but added she would be allowed to leave Russia if she wanted to. Mr Rodriguez indicated Ms Pelaez would return to Peru. | A lawyer for Vicky Pelaez, John Rodriguez, said a Russian official had told his client she would receive $2,000 a month for life and free housing in Moscow, but added she would be allowed to leave Russia if she wanted to. Mr Rodriguez indicated Ms Pelaez would return to Peru. |
| The Russian foreign ministry said the exchange by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service and the US Central Intelligence Agency was being conducted in the context of "overall improvement of the US-Russian ties and giving them new dynamics". | The Russian foreign ministry said the exchange by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service and the US Central Intelligence Agency was being conducted in the context of "overall improvement of the US-Russian ties and giving them new dynamics". |
| Have you met any of the people involved in the "spy swap"? Send us your comments. | Have you met any of the people involved in the "spy swap"? Send us your comments. |