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Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchants of Death,” whose arms sales have sparked deadly conflicts around the world, has traded WNBA star Britney Griner and retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. may be sent back to their home country on
Russian authorities have sought the release of Bout, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence in the United States after being convicted in 2011 of conspiring to kill an American, conspiring to launch an anti-aircraft missile and supporting a terrorist organization.
He was arrested in 2008 in a sting operation at a luxury hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, where he met with a DEA informant posing as an employee of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, classified as a drug by US authorities. terrorist group.
According to prosecutors, Bout was ready to provide the group with a “breathtaking arsenal of weapons worth $20 million.”
Britney Greiner revealed translation issues during arrest in February
Bout, played by Nicolas Cage in the 2005 film The Lord of War, has pleaded not guilty by claiming to be a legitimate businessman.
Russia’s state-run news agency TASS initially reported in May that negotiations were underway to exchange Bout for Greiner.
According to former Defense Intelligence Agency Rebecca Koffler, Russian officials view the Bout as a “high value asset” and are pressing for a replacement.
“Moscow wants him back because he has key insights he can share with his former agency, the GRU. Author of ‘Putin’s Playbook: Russia’s Secret Plan to Defeat America’ Koffler told Fox News Digital.
“As much as I feel sorry for Mr. Griner and Mr. Whelan, it would be a big mistake for the US to abandon Viktor Bout.”
Britney Greiner’s guilty plea could be a ‘gamble’ to speed up Russia’s exit: expert
The Biden administration confirmed Wednesday that it had made a “substantial proposal” to free Griner and Whelan.
A White House spokesperson told Fox News on Wednesday, “The U.S. government continues to pursue and work aggressively to make that happen, and as part of that effort, Britney Griner and Paul Whelan I made a substantive proposal to bring him back to Japan.
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Griner was arrested at a Russian airport in mid-February after police said they found cannabis oil in her bag. She pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges this month and could face up to her 10-year prison sentence, but she said her “intent” was not to violate Russian law. says.
Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges in 2020, but although he and his family have pleaded not guilty, the U.S. government has called the charges false.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.