American and Russian officials are reportedly nearing a deal in which accused Russian spies would be exchanged for prisoners held in Russia. The deal would include one Igor Sutyangin, a Russian academic convicted of being an American agent in 2004 and sentenced to 15 years in a northern Russian gulag:

A U.S. official familiar with the matter said talks about a possible plea agreement are continuing. The talks aren’t yet advanced enough that a deal is imminent, but prosecutors have agreed to postpone some court hearings for the alleged Russian spies while U.S. and Russian diplomats discuss an agreement. Such a deal could result with Russia agreeing to release prisoners, the official said.
A scheduled hearing in Alexandria, Va., for three of the alleged spies was postponed Wednesday.

The exchange — largely a relic of the Cold War — would likely take place in Vienna.

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