Russia and US said to be planning spy exchange

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

Reports from Russia say a prisoner swap is being planned to bring 10 suspected Russian spies back from the US.

A man jailed in Russia for spying for the CIA said he and unspecified others would be exchanged, his family said.

Igor Sutyagin was quoted as saying he expected to be put on flights to Vienna, then London, on Thursday.

Neither the Russian nor the US authorities were commenting on reports of the swap.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10536358.stm

[ZombieHorde]

1. Why are we bringing back the barter system?

(That is a joke.)

[dipsydoodle]

2. Tha crowd have been watched since the early nineties

or some of them at least. A swop was inevitable and I'm wondered if the reason they were rounded up now was because there is someone the USA needs back from abroad , in exchange, sooner rather than later.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Update : US and Russia reach agreement on 'spy exchange'

The US is to deport 10 people who spied for Moscow in exchange for four people convicted of espionage in Russia.

A judge in New York ordered the immediate deportation of the 10, and it is thought they may leave in hours.

The 10 had pleaded guilty to spying for a foreign country but a charge of laundering money was dropped.

Details of the four being freed by Russia were not given other than that all had had "alleged contact with Western intelligence agencies".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/us_and_canada/10564994.stm

[KDLarsen]

4. The exchange has taken place

My cynical heart notes that the government sent a Vision Air 767 to the exchange. I sure hope the passengers on either side are enjoying a more comfortable ride, than the one normally provided onboard Vision Air's longhaul fleet :eyes:

[dipsydoodle]

5. US and Russia in Vienna spy swap

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.

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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/us_and_canada/10564994.stm