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US-Russian 'spy swap' under way US-Russian 'spy swap' under way
(40 minutes later)
The US has deported 10 Russian agents as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Moscow.The US has deported 10 Russian agents as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Moscow.
A flight carrying the five men and five women left New York after a judge ordered their expulsion during a court hearing at which they admitted spying for a foreign country.A flight carrying the five men and five women left New York after a judge ordered their expulsion during a court hearing at which they admitted spying for a foreign country.
Meanwhile, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has pardoned four people convicted of espionage in Russia.Meanwhile, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has pardoned four people convicted of espionage in Russia.
They reportedly submitted a plea for pardon admitting their guilt.They reportedly submitted a plea for pardon admitting their guilt.
The Kremlin named the four as:The Kremlin named the four as:
  • Igor Sutyagin, a nuclear scientist jailed in 2004 for spying for the CIA
  • Sergei Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer convicted of spying for the UK in 2006
  • Alexander Zaporozhsky, a former employee of Russia's foreign intelligence service jailed for espionage in 2003
  • Gennadiy Vasilenko, reportedly a former KGB agent
  • Igor Sutyagin, a nuclear scientist jailed in 2004 for spying for the CIA
  • Sergei Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer convicted of spying for the UK in 2006
  • Alexander Zaporozhsky, a former employee of Russia's foreign intelligence service jailed for espionage in 2003
  • Gennadiy Vasilenko, reportedly a former KGB agent
It is unclear where the flight carrying the 10 Russian agents will land, or where the prisoners being freed by Moscow will be released.It is unclear where the flight carrying the 10 Russian agents will land, or where the prisoners being freed by Moscow will be released.
Unconfirmed reports suggest some form of handover may take place in the Austrian capital Vienna.Unconfirmed reports suggest some form of handover may take place in the Austrian capital Vienna.
'Conspiracy''Conspiracy'
The 10 Russian agents pleaded guilty 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 pleaded guilty to "conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country". More serious money laundering charges against them were dropped.
The 10 agents appeared sombre in court. Two of the accused, married couples, comforted each other, holding hands and smiling.The 10 agents appeared sombre in court. Two of the accused, married couples, comforted each other, holding hands and smiling.
There was a glimpse of the life that awaits the 10 when they are immediately returned to the country they tried to provide information to.There was a glimpse of the life that awaits the 10 when they are immediately returned to the country they tried to provide information to.
The lawyer for one of the agents, Vicky Pelaez, said Russian officials had promised her a lifetime monthly payment of $2,000, free housing, and all-expenses-paid visits from her children.The lawyer for one of the agents, Vicky Pelaez, said Russian officials had promised her a lifetime monthly payment of $2,000, free housing, and all-expenses-paid visits from her children.
It is unclear if the other nine were given a similar deal.It is unclear if the other nine were given a similar deal.
Russian agents downbeat in courtRussian agents downbeat in court
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.
He also says it is the inessential details which will stick in the mind, such as the revelation that one of the pairs of agents who married seem to have argued with Moscow over whether they would be allowed to own the house they lived in as part of that cover story.
Court documents revealed the real names of five of the Russians involved:Court documents revealed the real names of five of the Russians involved:
  • "Richard Murphy" and "Cynthia Murphy" admitted they were Russian citizens named Vladimir Guryev and Lydia Guryev
  • "Donald Howard Heathfield" and "Tracey Lee Ann Foley" admitted they were Russian citizens named Andrey Bezrukov and Elena Vavilova
  • "Juan Lazaro" admitted that he was a Russian citizen named Mikhail Vasenkov
  • "Richard Murphy" and "Cynthia Murphy" admitted they were Russian citizens named Vladimir Guryev and Lydia Guryev
  • "Donald Howard Heathfield" and "Tracey Lee Ann Foley" admitted they were Russian citizens named Andrey Bezrukov and Elena Vavilova
  • "Juan Lazaro" admitted that he was a Russian citizen named Mikhail Vasenkov
"Michael Zottoli" and "Patrica 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.
Moved to MoscowMoved to Moscow
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 Russian foreign ministry also issued a statement, saying that the exchange by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service and the US Central Intelligence Agency was conducted in the context of "overall improvement of the US-Russian ties and giving them new dynamics".The Russian foreign ministry also issued a statement, saying that the exchange by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service and the US Central Intelligence Agency was conducted in the context of "overall improvement of the US-Russian ties and giving them new dynamics".
One of the Russian prisoners pardoned by Moscow, nuclear specialist Igor Sutyagin, was earlier transferred to Moscow from a prison near the Arctic Circle.One of the Russian prisoners pardoned by Moscow, nuclear specialist Igor Sutyagin, was earlier transferred to Moscow from a prison near the Arctic Circle.
He reportedly told his family in Moscow that he would be flown to Vienna and released as part of a deal between the US and Russian governments.He reportedly told his family in Moscow that he would be flown to Vienna and released as part of a deal between the US and Russian governments.