Week 27 (2010): A Week in the Life of Igor Sutyagin

Just outside the Automobile Ring road of Moscow, on its east side, is a prison called Lefortovo. Built in 1881, it has isolation wards for interrogation by the KGB. The walls of Lefortovo have accommodated well-known Russians like Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Noble laureate; the August 1991 putschists; or more recently Alexander Litvinenko, who after leaving Lefortovo fled to London, was granted asylum by the UK, but was soon poisoned to death there. 

At the beginning of this week, on 5 July, Igor Sutyagin was transferred to Lefortovo. Like it does to newcomers, Lefortovo didn’t intimidate Igor. He had spent two of his worst years, from 2002 to 2004, facing the interrogators in the isolation wards here. Possibly they wished to question him again. But there was nothing new he could say any more. For the past eleven years, he had been in maximum security prisons. Since he was convicted in 2004 for treason, he was sent to Arkhangelsk – 1000 km away from his family. Russia, the largest country in the world, has vast spaces for hard labour colonies, Arkhangelsk has many such. Until yesterday, Igor was in its penal colony number 12, serving his sentence as prescribed. In that colony, his energetic youth had transformed into a fatigued middle age. He would leave the prison as an old man, he thought. In 2007, Putin had refused to pardon Igor, despite the Russian scientist community and international organisations pleading for his release.  As recently as in March this year, the Arkhangelsk court had reconfirmed – Igor will not be released before his term ends.

Psychologically, Lefortovo was better. It was closer to his family. They may allow a weekly meeting. Oksana and Nastya had grown without their father around them. Three years ago, he had managed to talk to them over a mobile phone. The joy was short-lived. When they found a phone in his possession, Igor had to spend the next three months in solitary confinement – in a dark, freezing, small cell.  

“You’ll have a meeting now.” A uniformed man said to Igor. Igor’s heart leaped. It could be Irina, or more likely Dmitry. But how did they know? Who could have told them? He was brought in here only a few minutes ago.

“Is it a man or a woman?” He asked the guard.

“Woman?” the guard laughed. “No. Men. All men.”

The guard unlocked the cell, and asked Igor to follow him. In the small room at the end of the corridor, Igor saw four men waiting for him.

“Dobrii den” said the hefty elderly man and shook Igor’s hand. Over the years, Igor had seen so many members of the competent organs that he liked to guess who was who. They never introduced themselves. Igor looked at the other three men in the room. He sensed something was wrong. May be he was away from Moscow for too long. The three men were tall and white, but they didn’t look Russian.

“Hello Mr Sutyagin” one of them said. All three shook hands with Igor. The pleasant handshakes didn’t surprise Igor. The KGBs are trained to greet the victim politely before beginning the grilling. The presence of three Americans was bizarre. Not even CNN is allowed inside Lefortovo. Judging by his bearing, the Russian man was probably a general – a general from the foreign intelligence service. During his trial he had come across a few people from SVR.

“Please sit down, Igor Vycheslavovich,” said the general. All four men sat in the simple chairs. Igor once again looked at the three Americans.

“I’ve good news for you.” The general gave an awkward smile. “You’ll be released soon.”

“Soon? Meaning how soon?” Igor asked. Bureaucracy has a different sense of time.

“Very soon.” The SVR man looked at the Americans. They nodded. “This week if everything goes as planned.”

Igor’s heartbeat suddenly rose. He imagined himself hugging Irina, in his flat. He saw himself sat at a table with his parents. His father was already a cripple. After being imprisoned, Igor had seen only his photo. He would meet his friends in Obninsk. They were such a moral support all these years. He should call them over for lunch. Family and friends. And walks in the woods. It must be great weather now – a little hot. But does that matter, if you are free? He can now gather mushrooms. He should take Irina, Nastya and Oksana on a holiday – somewhere quiet. Igor didn’t know if the govt offers any money when you get out of prison. But they can go somewhere close. It was good his release coincided with the girls’ vacations.

“Yeah, I would like to congratulate you.” Said the American, the same one who had spoken earlier.

Igor watched the American’s lips as he spoke. For the past eleven years, Igor had not heard anyone speak in English. He wished to ask the Americans – why are you here, but he didn’t. In Lefortovo, someone else does the job of asking. Anyway, the foreigners didn’t look like journalists. They looked the diplomat type.

“Thank you”. Igor gathered courage to respond.

“We’ll need to complete certain formalities.” Said the general, in Russian. “After signing the necessary documents, you will be flown from Moscow.”

“Flown?” Igor asked. “But I live close to Moscow. In Obninsk. I’m sure you know that. My family lives there. My brother, my parents – everyone lives there.”

The general exchanged glances with the American diplomats.

“You see, Igor Vycheslavovich. We are not the ones who are releasing you.  These people are. So you go to their country.”

“Which country?”

“Well, these gentlemen are from the United States of America. I suppose that’s where you will go.”

Igor looked at the SVR general. And then at the Americans. His mouth was slightly open, but no words came out of it.

“I appreciate that you are confused. Let me explain.” The American diplomat once again took charge. “It’s like this. In the USA, ten Russian agents were arrested. They pleaded guilty in a New York court this week. The American and the Russian governments have agreed, at the highest possible level mind you, to swap – you know exchange. We send the Russian spies back home, and in exchange we demand that Russia frees... er... people languishing in Russian prisons, charged with espionage.”

The general rapidly translated everything the American had said. He was instructed to ensure there was no misunderstanding whatsoever.

“I don’t understand.” Said Igor. “I don’t understand anything.”

“Look. We, the American government, have a high regard for you as a disarmament researcher and scientist. Amnesty International and other human rights organisations have been very vocal about your case. And our government decided...” he looked at the fellow Americans... “Let me say it. President Obama himself approved the list. Your name is at the top. You are one of the four people who will be exchanged for the ten Russian agents.”

“If I am free, why can’t I go home? To my family?”

“Igor, look at this list. And this one. Do you know them?”

Igor took the first list. It had ten names. Mostly American names with Russian names in the brackets.

“Who are these people? I don’t know any of them.”

“No, you wouldn’t. We understand that. What about the second list?”

The second list had only four names. The first name was Igor Sutyagin.

“I think the name Skripal is familiar. But I don’t know the other two names.”

“You see, all four of you were charged by the Russian government of espionage and treason.”

“But I have always denied it. I am innocent.”

The American diplomat looked at the general.

“It doesn’t matter now. Our American friends want to free you. The Russian spies come back to Russia, and the... how should I put it... those convicted of helping the west will go to the west.” The general said.

“But I’m not a spy.” Said Igor. “I am a researcher. Whatever documents I shared in England were freely available to public. I had no access to classified information. And I have not denied offering consultations to foreigners. My case is well documented. I love Russia. I will never do something against her interests.”

“Mr Sutyagin, we are here to help you. To secure your quick release. We know you as an academic. As a nuclear scientist. You worked with the institute for US and Canadian studies. And we have high regard for your knowledge and abilities. There is one more good news.” He grinned. “Though the US government is releasing you, you have a choice of going to the UK. You have been there before, and...er... you were charged with helping the Brits.”

“But I didn’t help anyone. I am innocent.” Repeated Igor. “I offered my reports as per the contract, and they contained information that can be found in the internet. I am not a spy.”

The general intervened.

“Igor Vycheslavovich, the choice is yours. You either fly to the UK or fly back to Arkhangelsk. For me, the choice is clear. You must appreciate this is an exchange of spies... exchange of those charged with espionage. The Russian spies come back home, and you settle in the country that has got you in exchange.”

“But I am a Russian citizen.”

“Yes. In fact, we will have to make an urgent passport for you. They will take your picture, and by tomorrow, you will get a passport. You can travel to the UK on that passport.”

“What about my family?”

“This is about you. We will fly you. Things are moving fast. Honestly, I have no idea about what happens in the future. My immediate job is for you to sign this document. That will enable President Medvedev to sign a pardon for you. Then you fly to Austria.”

“Austria?”

“Sorry, if I’m confusing you...” the general said. “Your plane will fly via Austria. But you will be out in the UK. I suggest you keep all this confidential. Or else the media people will come after you like vultures.”

“And when can I come back to Russia?”

“Come back? Honestly, Igor Vycheslavovich, I don’t know. I don’t even know if the Russian laws allow that. In the old days, our agents who defected to the west were given a new identity. For their own safety.” The general looked at the Americans. He didn’t know how much Russian they understood. “But I suppose now... things might not come to that. This... this is the document you’ll need to sign.”

Igor started reading the document. This was a rare instance of a prisoner in Lefortovo being asked to sign a document without torture.

“Here.... here it says... I accept my guilt.” Igor pointed. “I don’t. As a matter of fact, over the past eleven years, I have always refused. That’s one reason why I am still here. I am innocent.”

“Dear Igor Vycheslavovich, president Medvedev can’t sign a pardon letter unless you accept your guilt.”

“But I am not guilty.”

The American diplomat came forward.

“I need to explain something, Mr Sutyagin. The American government has offered this deal on ‘all or nothing’ basis. And you are a critical element of the equation. You refuse and you go back to your hard labour. But also the ten Russians in the USA go back to American jails. Trust me, our jails may look better than this one, but the people there are as nasty as yours. Also the other three from your side will continue to be jailed. You see thirteen people’s lives depend on your signing this document.”

Igor knew nobody from the lists shown to him earlier. But he knew what it was to lose freedom for over a decade. He took the pen offered by the general and signed.

“But, please, please understand. My signing this does not mean I am confessing. I have not committed any crime.”

“Thank you.” The general said. “You will get an opportunity to meet your family members, once, before you fly. And I’ll arrange for your photo to be taken. You will get your passport tomorrow.”

“I wish you the best in life.” The American diplomat said. Everybody shook hands.

***

On the way out, the general talked to his man.  

“Arrange that photo. He looks bad and unshaven. Don’t take his photo in the prisoner clothes. We need it for the passport. Give him some shirt to wear... and tie. But no razor. Absolutely not.” He turned to his American colleague and said, “He is in a bad state. I want the operation to happen smoothly. Don’t want to take any chances.”

***

 On July 6, Igor Sutyagin was given a Russian passport – for international travel. In his photo, he looked gaunt and unshaven.

On July 7, in the jail, he met his family – mother, brother, and wife. The meeting was allowed for less than an hour.

On July 8, president Medvedev signed an executive order granting pardon to the four Russians who would be swapped for the ten Russians. The order mentioned that all four convicted persons had admitted their guilt. In deciding to pardon, Mr Medvedev took into account the fact that they had already served substantial lengths of time.

On July 9, a chartered jet of Vision Airlines arrived in Vienna from New York carrying the ten Russian spies. Within seconds, a Russian govt plane landed next to it. After 90 minutes, the Russian jet left first carrying ten agents this time. The American plane made a brief stopover at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England before flying to Washington.

Yesterday, on July 10, Igor managed to call his wife over the phone. He said he was in some English town, but didn’t know which. He must be brief because he had no money to buy a phone card. Since his Russian passport didn’t have a UK visa, he was not keen to go out of his hotel. The person who had brought him to the hotel said something would be done about it on Monday. They don’t work on the weekend.

Today, on July 11, Igor continues to be in that unknown English town, waiting for tomorrow so that someone can make his existence in the UK legal. And hoping someone may offer some money – so that he could call his home in Russia and speak to his daughters.

Ravi

P.S. 

 This entire story is based on newspaper and internet reports. Imagination is used only to connect the factual dots. 

The web-o-graphy:  (If desperate to read the Russian websites, you could take them through Google translate)

1. http://www.sutyagin.org/: Support Igor Sutyagin – a page by human rights organisation. 
2. http://www.sutyagin.ru/: (in Russian) Excellent website run by his family since the time he was arrested eleven years ago.
3. http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/597 : President Medvedev’s executive order granting pardon to Igor Sutyagin and others.
4. http://www.bfm.ru/articles/2010/07/07/rossija-idet-na-bolshoj-shpionskij-obmen.html : (In Russian) the journalist talks to his family about their meeting him before he was flown off.
5. http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2010/07/09_a_3396439.shtml?incut1 (In Russian) Another article offering resume of Sutyagin.
6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10580301.stm : BBC news about the spy swap.
7. http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/198358/ (In Russian): Excellent NTV coverage. Click on all the links on the right to see the TV coverage and transcripts.
8. http://lenta.ru/lib/14183335/ (In Russian) A detailed entry on Igor Sutyagin in Lentapedia.

R.