Victor Bout on potential list of prisoners that may be swapped by Russia, U.S. - Russian deputy FM

MOSCOW. Nov 18 (Interfax) - Moscow is expecting the prospect of a Russian-U.S. prisoner swap to strengthen, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday, noting that Victor Bout is on the potential list of prisoners who may be exchanged.

"I'd like to hope that the prospect [of Bout's exchange] not just remains but also strengthens and the time will come when this prospect evolves into a specific agreement," Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow.

"The Americans are demonstrating certain foreign activity, and we are doing professional work through the designated channel. We have yet to arrive at a common denominator, but there is no doubt that Viktor Bout is among those discussed, and we are definitely counting on a positive outcome," Ryabkov said.