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Russia Dismisses Reports of Prisoner Swap With US

by Associated Press

   MOSCOW --

   Russia's Foreign Ministry has dismissed suggestions that an American
   arrested in Moscow on suspicion of spying could be used in a prisoner
   swap for a Russian held in the United States.

   Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in Moscow last month on
   suspicion of spying. Whelan's arrest raised speculation that he could
   be swapped for one of the Russians held in the U.S. such as gun rights
   activist Maria Butina, who has pleaded guilty to acting as a foreign
   agent in the U.S.

   Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters
   Friday that "there is no talk" about the swap and dismissed the reports
   as "fake."

   Zakharova also said that Russia would allow diplomats from Britain,
   Ireland and Canada to visit Whelan, who holds four citizenships.