No new prisoner swap proposals from United States - Russian deputy FM

MOSCOW. Oct 25 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has not received any new proposals from the United States regarding the exchange of prisoners serving sentences in Russia and the U.S., Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

"The issue of prisoner swaps, or, to be more exact, the issue of releasing Russian citizens, an overwhelming number of whom have been given very long sentences by unfair verdicts and wrongful accusations, is being discussed between security services," Ryabkov told reporters on Wednesday.

He was asked to comment on a U.S. statement on "a serious proposal to Moscow regarding Paul Whelan."

"The Foreign Ministry has not registered any additional ideas or proposals from the U.S. side to this end via its channels recently. If they are received, they will be forwarded to those who address such issues in their work. Such proposals will be considered," Ryabkov said.

"As of now, there is no news or changes in this situation," he said.