US and Russian spies could be used in government swap program

Russia may be interested in exchanging an imprisoned scientist, accused of spying for the Central Intelligence Agency, for one of the Russian agents currently detained in a high-profile spy case in the US.

A Russian scientist, convicted in 2004 for passing military secrets to the CIA, has been prepared for release from a Moscow jail in exchange for one of the ten accused Russian spies arrested last month in the US. Reports indicate the US and Russia are involved in discussions that may lead to a rapid trade of one of the alleged Russian spies arrested in June for the Russian scientist. A scheduled hearing in Alexandria, Va. on Wednesday for three of the alleged spies was postponed. Igor Sutyagin, a nuclear weapons expert, was sentenced to 15 years in jail in 2004 for passing classified information to a British firm, Alternative Futures, believed by the Russian Federal Security Service to be a front for the US government. According to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Sutyagin was “sentenced to 15 years in prison in Archangelsk, northwest Russia, in April 2004 for sharing state secrets with U.S. military intelligence.” Anna Stavitskaya, lawyer for Sutyagin, said he has been sent from the prison at Archangelsk to Lefortovo prison in Moscow. From there he could later be released to the United Kingdom. Sutyagin was allowed to see his family after arriving at Lefortovo, according to Reuters. It was there he revealed to his family the government’s plans for his swap. "Sutyagin agreed to the swap offer as he had no other choice left. He knew that otherwise his whole life would be broken," said Stavitskaya. "But he still insists he is innocent." Government officials for both the US and Russia have declined to confirm the arrangement. Mark Toner, a spokesman for the State Department, said: “I’d have to refer you to the Justice Department on any speculation about a spy swap.” The State Department has declined to comment. As reported earlier by Digital Journal, the Russian spies are part of a high-profile case involving information on nuclear weapons, conspiracy and money laundering. The case has far-reaching consequences and could be one of the reasons both governments are searching for a quick solution.