Moscow Says Awaits U.S. Response to Prisoner Swap Proposals

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Officials in Moscow said Wednesday that they are waiting for the United States to respond to its prisoner swap proposals, days before
American reporter Evan Gershkovich was set to face trial in Russia on espionage charges.President Vladimir Putin said in February that talks
on a prisoner swap involving Gershkovich were underway, but the Kremlin has not given any details on the progress of the negotiations."The
ball is in the court of the United States, we are waiting for them to respond to the ideas that were presented to them," Deputy Foreign
Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state-run TASS news agency."They are well-known to the relevant parts of the United States administration
I understand that, perhaps, something in these ideas does not suit the Americans
He could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of spying.Washington has accused Moscow of arresting its citizens on baseless charges
to use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of Russians convicted abroad.Among other United States nationals being held in Russia
is reporter Alsu Kurmasheva, who was arrested last year for failing to register as a "foreign agent." Her employers denounced the case
against her as politically motivated.Former United States marine Paul Whelan, in prison in Russia since 2018 and serving a 16-year sentence
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