Old acquaintance/colleague Igor Sutyagin freed in "spy swap"

Igor Sutyagin was an arms control researcher at the USA and Canada Institute, which has had a close relationship to my old employer, the Center for Naval Analyses, since Cold War's end. As a result, when I was sent over to Moscow in 1995 to consult with Russian naval flags on the future of U.S.-Russian naval cooperation, Igor was my handler/guide to facilitate meetings.  I found him to be a most excellent fellow and diligent researcher. He was later accused of spying for the US and was clearly railroaded into a conviction in 2004. Word was he suffered mightily in prison, health-wise, so I know everybody who cared about him is ecstatic to hear about his release and wish him well in his new life.