Lawyer of Bout, Yaroshenko finds it expedient to swap them for Savchenko
The probability of swapping Russians Viktor Bout and Konstantin Yaroshenko, who are jailed in the United States, for Ukrainian serviceman Nadia Savchenko exists, and this exchange would be in the interests of all the parties, U.S. lawyer from Russia Alexei Tarasov told Interfax.
"The probability (of the swap) is above zero. From my point of view, as a lawyer of Bout and Yaroshenko, this swap would make sense and would be expedient," he told the news agency on Tuesday.
Asked if he knew something about ongoing talks on this score, the lawyer replied: "I cannot say that I am not informed, but I cannot disclose the specifics. So, no comment."
Tarasov recalled that both Bout and Yaroshenko have already served a third of their prison terms: Bout has been in U.S. prison for nine years, Yaroshenko six.
"These are draconian terms that they got for simply having sat at the table with provocateurs," the lawyer stressed.
Furthermore, he recalled that both Russians' cases are currently in the process of being appealed. "There is a likelihood that during the appeal process, the verdicts will be changed, and they will be released without any swap," Tarasov said.
This is why a possible exchange of Savchenko for Bout and Yaroshenko is "in the interest of everyone, and we welcome this initiative," he said.
Several sources familiar with the situation told Interfax earlier on Tuesday that Savchenko may be exchanged for a group of Russians, including Bout and Yaroshenko, who are serving prison sentences in the U.S.
Savchenko's lawyer, for his part, said that he has not heard of any such possible exchange, but would be happy with such an outcome.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt told reporters in Kyiv that he views such an exchange option as absurd.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said that Bout and Yaroshenko have nothing to do with Savchenko.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for his part, said that the Kremlin has no information at this point about a possible swap of Savchenko for Russians Bout and Yaroshenko, who are jailed in the United States.