UPDATE: 3:10 PM ET -- The New York Times is reporting that most if not all of the 10 Russian spy suspects will plead guilty in court today as part of the spy swap deal being put in place by Russia and the U.S. The AP reports that two lawyers confirmed the guilty pleas before the hearing began this afternoon in Manhattan.
In a situation reminiscent of the Cold War, a massive U.S.-Russia spy swap appeared to be moving forward Thursday.
Following reports that a Russian convicted of spying for the United States had been plucked from a Moscow prison and flown to Vienna, defense lawyers in New York say they expect an immediate resolution for the 10 suspects charged with spying in the United States.
Though Russian and U.S. officials have thus far refused to comment, details have been steadily emerging that seemingly indicate the first steps of a swap are already in progress.
From the AP:
Igor Sutyagin, a Russian arms control analyst serving a 14-year sentenced for spying for the United States, had told his relatives he was going to be one of 11 convicted spies in Russia who would be freed in exchange for 11 people charged in the United States with being Russian agents. They said he was going to be sent to Vienna, then London.
In Moscow, his lawyer, Anna Stavitskaya, said a journalist called Igor Sutyagin's family to inform them that Sutyagin was seen walking off a plane in Vienna on Thursday. However, she told The Associated Press she couldn't get confirmation of that claim from Russian authorities.
Sutyagin's family told the BBC they had not spoken to Igor since news of his possible release broke.
"This is all just speculation, media re-writing each other. As far as we are concerned, we still don't know," Sutyagin's brother Dmitry said.
Other published reports indicated that Anna Chapman, the "bombshell" suspect whose private life has sparked a media sensation on both sides of the Atlantic, was expected to arrive in Moscow Thursday night as part of the handover. Chapman's lawyer is quoted only as saying, "Ifeel our discussions will probably be resolved by tomorrow one way or another."
Despite Washington's thus-far tight-lipped approach to the case, ABC's George Stephanopoulos tweeted that "Admin official tells me the Russian spy swap deal is 'basically' done. But still working out final details."