The swap reportedly began late yesterday, with Russia beginning the process of releasing at least one of the prisoners they held, Igor Sutyagin , almost immediately. Russian media reported that he had already arrived in Vienna, Austria, although his father said that it was so far unconfirmed. Russia has so far not confirmed the identities of other prisoners to be released, although several names have been speculated, including Alexander Zaporozhsky, Sergei Skripal ,  and Alexander Sypachev, all accused of transferring information to foreign governments. The US arrested the ten spies that are to be returned to Russia as part of its breakup of a long-term spy ring that had operated for years, and involved the spies living as American civilians, some as couples. Prosecutors say that they had been commanded by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service , with the mission of collecting information about American policy.
The swap reportedly began late yesterday, with Russia beginning the process of releasing at least one of the prisoners they held, , almost immediately. Russian media reported that he had already arrived in Vienna, Austria, although his father said that it was so far unconfirmed. Russia has so far not confirmed the identities of other prisoners to be released, although several names have been speculated, including , , and Alexander Sypachev, all accused of transferring information to foreign governments. The US arrested the ten spies that are to be returned to Russia as part of its breakup of a long-term spy ring that had operated for years, and involved the spies living as American civilians, some as couples. Prosecutors say that they had been commanded by Russia's , with the mission of collecting information about American policy.
D
Igor Sutyagin
D
Alexander Zaporozhsky, Sergei Skripal
A
,
D
Foreign Intelligence Service