Translated material
"I do not feel completely free"
The Russian scientist, sentenced to 15 years for espionage, became one of four convicts who were exchanged a month ago for ten Russian intelligence officers detained in the United States. In an exclusive interview with The New Times, Sutyan first told the details of the exchange 
For me, this whole story began on July 5 - and began completely unexpectedly. Of course, I heard that a few days before in America they caught ten or eleven of our scouts who were not very successful, but I did not connect this story with his fate. In general, at this time, I made repairs in the PCT building * * a chamber -type premises. Colony: Waiting for the new head of the regional department of the FSIN. So in the morning of July 5, I triggered the paths covered with slag, did something in the rooms, laundered them from whitewashing.
And after lunch, the operational duty officer suddenly came. He brought me to my “service” room and said: “Let's get together quickly with all things. You are transferred. " And then he added: "Honestly - I'm not in business." The fact is that such a hasty reference is an extremely unpleasant matter. If you are not informed in advance so that you can put your things, then you usually react extremely nervously, because in the conditions of the “hint” any stage is a really small fire. In general, any violation of stability in prison is a new stress, and there are always enough of them. Here the officer is purely human and apologized. But I still managed to sit in my detachment, say goodbye to my comrades. By the way, one of them, Victor, had a birthday. And he told me: "You know, on my birthday, you just must be fine!"
Return to "Familiar places"
Was you a lot of things with you?
At first there were seven bags: two with books and junk, which has accumulated over the years. In Avtosak, I put things more tightly, threw something. At 36 kilometers from Arkhangelsk, the autozak broke. We stopped in the forest, there was no connection, neither the walkie -talkie nor the phones “took”. Someone from the convoy, in my opinion, even climbed onto the roof of a car carrier, trying to catch a signal. In the end, they got through to the control, from there they promised to send a car to pick me up, and a truck to pull the car factory back to the colony. While waiting, I showed the escort copies of newspapers who appeared in the case as evidence of my guilt in espionage - after all, everyone was very interested in what I was imprisoned. Then the prison armored car arrived, they transplanted me there and we went on.
You understood where you are being taken?
Of course not! Just when we did not turn towards the Arkhangelsk pre -trial detention center, but went along a completely different road, I was surprised. And then, when slabs began to knock under the wheels, he began to guess that it was an airfield. And I was not mistaken. They transplanted into a regular plane, put on two pairs of handcuffs: one on me, and the other for my left hand was chained to the captain’s right hand, who took place at the aisle. I was in the middle, by the window - another captain. The head of the guard - the major, sat in the back.
When they took off, I finally saw the White Sea, which I dreamed of seeing, sitting in a colony. And two and a half hours later, they flew to Sheremetyevo, the terminal D. Sub -plunged into the prison Gazelle, a car with special forces walked from behind. I heard that we were going to Lefortovo.
Who talked with you that evening?
On Monday evening, no one talked to me. At first there was a very long search - in Lefortovo it is so accepted. Literally everything is recalculated and corresponded: for example, I had counted that I had 23 spare buttons, 17 scrapers, 106 mail cards, 74 envelopes. In general, I got to the camera only at three in the night. From the employees of the pre -trial detention center, I accidentally heard that three of them were brought with me that day. And in the pantry where I attributed my things, I saw six more bags. On one of them was a tag with the surname Skripal, Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. * * State treason in the form of espionage. The surname was familiar to me from the publications, so I had a certain hypothesis: for some reason I decided that the situation in the country had changed for the better and there was a mass revision of cases under article 275. Well, then I was taken to the shower and took me to camera No. 68 on the second floor. She is three -seat, but I was alone in her. In general, for me, the arrival in Lefortovo was a return to familiar places. Since 2004, when I was sitting there, little has changed. The same people are working there, we managed to get to the rest at night. Everything is almost the same, only the carpet on the floor in the corridor is ate.
"What are you doing ..."
How did you find out why you were still brought to Moscow?
On Tuesday morning, they raised me and led me to "play the piano." This is a common procedure when the fingerprints are removed. But instead of smearing my fingers with mastic, they asked me what my shirt is! A short sleeve shirt and a already tied blue tie were removed - all this, having removed the robe, which is issued in Lefortovo, I put on over the fallen pants. And then they began to photograph. In principle, this is a standard procedure in the insulator. True, as a rule, they are photographed in prison robes, and not in shirts with ties.
During the repairs in the colony, I did not shave every day, and therefore Lefortovo was in front of the photographers with a three -day stubble. So here is one of those who photographed me, asked the other: "Maybe to remove this bristle?" And the other answered him: "For them, the more natural, the better." Then for some reason I decided that they photographed me for an American visa. All that I found out during this time was a single picture: this is not a revision of affairs, but an exchange! This did not add joy, so, returning to the camera, I wandered very angry on it and kept repeating one phrase: “What are you doing, scum!” And after a couple of hours I was taken to the office of the head of the pre -trial detention center. And because of the long table, three people, similar to Americans, came out. Then it became even more sad for me - I realized that I was not mistaken. And it was about exchanging. In addition to Americans, speaking, by the way, in Russian, there were two more of ours in civilian clothes. One named his name and patronymic - Alexander Vasilievich, and the second only sat and was silent. 
The residential zone of the colony on the piers (IK-1 in Arkhangelsk), where Sutyan spent most of his term
You didn't know them before?
It seems to me that I once had seen this person who talked to me before. Perhaps he came to me during the investigation and was one of those who in 2003 convinced me to abandon lawyers. Or maybe I saw him during some of his performances on TV. From Lefortovo’s employees I later learned that he is a general. The Americans were also very high -ranking, at least one of them - an employee of the Ministry of Justice. Since ours did not introduce themselves, it is difficult to say for sure what kind of department they are. Maybe from the SVR. When I said in a conversation: “You put me!”, This general objected: “We have nothing to do with it, this is not us.”
What was the conversation about?
The general told me that between the presidents of Russia and the USA, an agreement was reached on the exchange of people who are in the hands of the American authorities to those who are convicted with us. At the same time, no one showed me any lists and did not call names.
Then you were offered to admit your guilt?
Yes. Our white -headed general said that the agreement is mirror, that from the American side a condition is set for our detainees in the States to plead guilty (and they already do this), and therefore they demand the same from me. I immediately began to object, but it was told that the agreement is packing. And when I tried to find out whether it was possible to pull out anything from this agreement, for example, not to admit his guilt, I did not achieve an answer. I asked what would happen if I refuse to participate in this agreement, to which one of the Americans replied: “There is a list on the one hand and a list on the other hand - and that’s all I can say.” The Americans said that on Thursday, July 8, we must fly to the UK. Our constantly pressed that the agreement was reached at the highest level and only the Lord God. I objected: “I understand: your people were in trouble, but why should I save these people at the cost of recognizing what I did not want to recognize all these 11 years and what I do not want to recognize now? And why should I leave my country? I have nothing to do in the UK! " "
For some reason, I decided that the situation in the country has changed for the better and there is a mass revision of cases under article 275
"How did the interlocutors react to your objections?
It caused their nervousness mixed with confusion. Both the general and the Americans, by the way, too. At some point, it became clear to me that I got between two very large wheels. I realized what would happen to the pebble that will try to stop these monstrous rotating wheels and, perhaps, will even succeed for a while. The fate of the pebble is absolutely clear: on the next turnover, without even noticing, the wheels will spread it into such powder that you won’t find dust, no matter how you try. But this pebble is not only my fate, it is also the fate of my most dear people.
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| Convicted scientist in the colony recreation room |
Returning to the camera, did you weigh for and against?
Some rush began here, because quite quickly the captain came to me with the question: "So will you write a statement?" And I was going to receive a razor machine (this is done in Lefortovo through a statement) and at first I did not even understand what it was about. But soon they brought me a printed text of the pardon. They promised to make a copy - they did not. And that was so soft, but steadfast pressure. Such a spastening of events, which in itself crushed. And in the evening of July 6, I still signed this paper. It was very difficult for me, I remembered the people who refused to ask the authorities. But here what I understood played a very large role: it would be easier for my relatives if I still be free.
Then you talked with the general again?
Yes, they assured me that I retain citizenship, that I can return to Russia at any moment and so that I would not think that they are torn away from my family. They tried to explain to me that my departure is not a division of a family. I asked me to be given a date with my relatives before I decide what to do. But they did the opposite and allowed a date only after I signed a petition for pardon.
"I can't surfacing"
And how did the exchange itself take place for our scouts?
It was a very long time. On Thursday, July 8, we did not fly away anywhere. They said that there was some delay and we are flying away on Friday. On Thursday, I confirmed in writing that none of my relatives expressed a desire to fly to the UK. On Friday morning, we went to Domodedovo - four prisoners * * * convicted under article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation Sergey Skripal, Alexander Zaporizhsky, Gennady Vasilenko. with a convoy on a minibus, two escort cars, an armored car with special forces. We flew to Vienna on the Emchees aircraft Yak-42D-board 42446 Vladimir Kokkinaki. At first they sat at the ramp in a minibus for a very long time. Then a woman appeared from the Lefortovo special accounting department - she brought blue certificates of liberation. We signed, but they did not give them to us. Then they climbed onto the plane and sat there for a long time until the guard of the FSIN was replaced by the Ministry of Emergencies, who accompanied us in flight (they had a colonel senior). There were three salons in the plane, in one of them - chic - those three Americans and our two, who were talking to me in Lefortovo, sat. The Americans handed each of us a sports bag of clothes. For example, I flew in a prison robe, because over 11 years of imprisonment I simply did not have clothes left. But the colonel of the Ministry of Emergencies forbade even to see what was in bags.
In Vienna, they landed and stood next to Boeing 767. Our general categorically declared order: “Take things, go out, silently pass by the people who will go towards, we don’t look anywhere!” True, it turned out that the Austrians, apparently, decided differently-so that we went to a neighboring aircraft on a minibus. Such an exchange, as in the Dead season, did not work.
That is, you have not seen those people on whom you were changed?
No. We four and three Americans climbed the Boeing ladder and went towards Great Britain, and our generals with our intelligence officers, whom we never saw, flew to Moscow.
We landed at the Brise-Norton air base, I and Skripal put me on a small helicopter, Zaporizhzhya and Vasilenko went to the states, and we flew to the western outskirts of London. 
Four Russian convicts to exchange were brought to Domodedovo to Domodedovo
Why were you brought to the UK, and not to the USA?
I don’t know anything about it, they didn’t explain it to me.
Do you feel free?
Not yet. I am still in separation from my relatives. The feeling that was in prison did not go anywhere: so I gained air, dived and rowing under water. But I still can’t come up. I will pop up when I will be at home. But, frankly, I can’t imagine how my country has changed in the 11 years that I have not been there.
What are you going to do in the near future?
I'm trying to figure out what is happening. I really do not like that I still do not have documents about the release that I signed. I know that by law they had to give them to me. I asked the British representatives about this, with whom I talked in a hotel in which I lived at first for several days. I know that they sent requests to Russia. But there is no answer. It’s somehow restless to me: what will happen to me if I fly to Russia? They will ask me there: "Who are you?" - "Yes, I have been freed from prison." -"And show you a certificate of liberation!" “So I don't have her.” - “Ah, no? Well, the path to the FBU IK-12 is still not tamped! ” From the memoirs of Edmond POUP * * American Edmond PUP was convicted by the Moscow City Court on December 6, 2000 for 20 years for espionage, pardoned by President Putin on December 14, 2000. Lives in the USA. I know that he was a decree on the presidential pardon was handed over to the plane in Moscow. They still have not given it to me.
Do you think that all this is done specifically to keep you as if on a short leash?
And why keep me on a leash if our general in Lefortovo said that my business is wound up? I still have no confidence that if I come to Russia, it suddenly does not turn out that the ticket to Arkhangelsk has already been bought ...
Have you changed in prison?
This is a long conversation. I really have changed. And now I try to become myself again. I am rejoicing again, feel smells, colors and everything else. Now I need to write to all those who have written me all these years. There are 27 such permanent correspondents. And many more hundreds who wrote to me from abroad.
Igor Sutyan, head of the military-political research sector of the Institute of the United States and Canada, was detained on October 27, 1999. He was charged with treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Sutyan did not admit his guilt. The scientist told about contacts with representatives of the consulting company Alternatives Futures, by order of which he made press reviews, during the detention in the Kaluga FSB back in October 1999. He was sure that there was nothing illegal in these contacts.
In April 2004, the Moscow City Court sentenced Sityagin to 15 years in prison. In 2004, Amnesty International declared him a political prisoner. In the near future, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg will consider the scientist’s complaint about violation of his rights during the trial.