TODAY: Biggest spy swap since Cold War apparently underway; Russian suspects plead guilty in New York; the ‘suburban spies’ exchanged for four pardoned by Russia; a case of pragmatism over pessimism?  Duma defence approves START; Memorial receives barrage of criticism from Chechen lawmakers and Kadryov; Belarus President under attack from Kremlin? Anti-mayoral reform protests; curators compare Russia to Nazi Germany; Georgian 130-year-old

The Moscow Times reports that the wheels of the spy swap are in motion: jailed scientist Igor Sutyagin has allegedly been sent to Vienna amid reports that Anna Chapman would be delivered to Moscow in exchange.  Apparently the Russians have pled guilty to conspiracy; they will be returned to Russia for alleged US/MI5 spies now pardoned by Medvedev.  The Russian quartet are Alexander Zaporozhsky, Gennady Vasilenko, Igor Sutyagin and Sergei Skripal.  The Washington Post provides the background on their stories.  The exchange may have ‘evoked memories of cold war-style bargaining’ but the collaborative effort for resolution ‘indicates that the Kremlin likewise values the warmer ties’, says the New York Times.  It was the traces of old Russia manifest in the operation that prompted the US to ‘be as aggressive in rolling up this operation as we were’ says one anonymous official.  Christopher Andrew, the official historian of MI5, tells the BBC that he thought the Russians were ‘getting a better bargain‘ out of the exchange.  ‘There was a hint of Moscow’s behind-the-scenes desperation to move its agents back to Russia’  the Guardian suggests.  There is a Q and A with espionage expert Jeff Burds in the Washington Post.   ‘With the damage averted, the positive trend can continue’ argues a Reuters reset analysis.  Richard Aldrich, a historian of espionage quoted by Reuters, agreed that pragmatism was the guiding principle in the exchange.  The Pentagon is apparently planning to spend $180 million on ten Russian military helicopters for Afghanistan’s air force despite complaints from certain congressmen.  The State Duma’s defense committee has recommended the ratification of the START treaty with the United States.