Russia 'not ruling out prisoner exhange' for Briton held on spying charges

Russia’s foreign ministry has not ruled out a prisoner exchange for the British citizen held on apparent charges of espionage. Paul Whelan, a former US marine, was arrested in Moscow on December 28th. Russian media reported claims that the 48-year-old was apprehended in possession of a USB drive containing the names of Russian security agents. Since his arrest Mr Whelan, who also holds US, Canadian and Irish passports, has been kept in the notoriously brutal Lefortovo prison in the Russian