‘Arms Dealer’ Viktor Bout swaps jail for politics upon returning to Russia.
An Arms Trafficker, Dubbed the “Merchant of Death,” Runs for Elected Office in Russia
An infamous arms trafficker known as the “Merchant of Death,” who was controversially traded by the Biden administration for basketball star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap last year, has returned to Russian soil and is now vying for elected office.
Viktor Bout, labeled as one of the world’s most dangerous criminals, was sentenced to 25 years in an American prison on four felony charges, including conspiring to kill Americans and providing material support to a terrorist organization.
The former Soviet military translator had established his empire during a lawless post-Soviet era by supplying weapons to terrorists and militants worldwide. He was eventually apprehended in Thailand through a Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation that spanned three continents.
Now, Bout is determined to contribute to his homeland.
A Political Aspirant in Ulyanovsk
The 56-year-old is currently running as a candidate for the regional assembly in Ulyanovsk, a territory located 450 miles east of Moscow and renowned as Vladimir Lenin’s birthplace. With a population of 1.3 million people, Bout aims to represent the interests of everyday Russians.
In an interview with the New York Times conducted in Moscow, Bout expressed his motivation, stating, “I’ve been locked up in your federal system for 15 years. So what do you expect from me? To take a vacation? Heck no. I have to do everything for my country.”
While Bout did not delve into the specifics of his campaign platform, he emphasized his desire to start from the grassroots level and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by ordinary Russians after spending over a decade incarcerated in the United States.
“When you’ve been absent from your country for 15 years, you need to start somewhere,” he explained. ”For me, entering regional office is a better way to comprehend the problems. I need to meet people. I need to learn how they live.”
Not the First Controversial Figure to Hold Office in Russia
If successful, Bout would join a list of individuals accused of crimes by Western authorities who have returned to prominence and held positions of power in Russia.
Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB bodyguard accused of murdering Alexander Litvinenko according to British authorities, now serves as a deputy in the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.
Maria Butina, a Russian agent who attempted to infiltrate the National Rifle Association to influence policy and pleaded guilty in 2018 to conspiring as a foreign agent, was deported to Russia. In 2021, she became a member of the Duma and is affiliated with the United Russia Party, led by President Vladimir Putin.
Only time will tell if Viktor Bout’s bid for elected office will be successful, but his controversial past and determination to serve his country make his campaign an intriguing development in Russian politics.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...