The United States and Russia have agreed to the largest "spy swap" since the Cold War ended.br br A New York judge ordered the immediate deportation of 10 people who pleaded guilty to acting as agents for a foreign government without permission.br br Following that, Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, pardoned four convicted foreign spies - after they submitted a plea for pardon and admitted their guilt - so they could be exchanged for the 10.br br Medvedev and his US counterpart, Barack Obama, have approved the swaps.br br Al Jazeera's Nick Spicer reports.