Who Is Viktor Bout, Arms Dealer in Swap for Brittney Griner?

After a long and arduous journey, Viktor Bout has been granted freedom in an unlikely exchange for American basketball star Brittney Griner. In 2011 Mr. Bout faced conviction on charges of conspiring to kill US citizens; yet even then his lawyer declared the Russian arms dealer sure he had not seen “the end”. After serving just over one tenth of his 25-year prison sentence, Thursday’s transfer saw Mr.Bout released into life after jail at 55 years old while Ms Griner is also now home once more with her family in America.

Russian officials had been on the hunt for notorious international arms-dealer Viktor Bout, whose “Merchant of Death” moniker weighed heavy. He became infamous among American intelligence agents and his story inspired a 2005 film starring Nicolas Cage entitled “Lord of War.” After years eluding capture, Mr. Bout was eventually convicted by a New York jury in four counts – including conspiring to kill US citizens – after he agreed to sell antiaircraft weapons to drug enforcement informants posing as Colombian revolutionary group buyers. Attorney General Eric Holder at the time characterized him as one of the most prolific traders around.

After a decade of evading capture, notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout was finally returned to Russia yesterday by request from Russian officials. Former US attorney general Eric Holder had labeled Viktor “one of the world’s most prolific arms dealers,” earning him his infamous title: “Merchant of Death”. His exploits were even said to be the basis for Nicolas Cage’s 2005 movie role in Lord Of War where he plays an international gunrunner based on Mr. Bout’s life story.

As the Russian government continues to make a concerted effort in bringing its citizen, Viktor Bout back from Tajikistan, sources close to University College London lecturer Mr. Galeotti have come out with information that further explain why this is a priority for his country of origin. According to these reports, prior being conscripted into the Soviet military at age 18 and eventually becoming an officer in Russia’s Air Force Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow; experts believe it was likely due to his involvement within their intelligence services.

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse, a business empire emerged from chaos. Former military officer Viktor Bout capitalized on Russia’s economic turmoil by setting up his own cargo company in United Arab Emirates and building it to comprise 60 planes. However, what began as an endeavor for profit quickly turned illegal – arms trafficking flourished throughout former-Soviet states due to privatisation opportunities in post-soviet culture with networks developing amongst militants rebels and terrorists that formed shell companies for transaction concealment.

Viktor Bout, a powerful international arms dealer known for his illicit dealings with Al Qaeda and other extremist groups has been the subject of multiple investigations and indictments from U.S authorities over decades of illegal weapon sales around the world. His flair for evading capture only added to intrigue surrounding this titan in organized crime’s shadowy underworld; In 1995, Mr Bout was recorded even bamboozling Taliban forces by securing an extraction or escape – depending on which account you believe-for himself after one of his planes were grounded during its travels through Afghanistan carrying contraband military cargo destined for militants across Africa and Asia alike.

In 2008, after a two-year manhunt, Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was arrested in Bangkok by U.S authorities for attempting to sell weapons to undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents he believed represented Colombian rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). During negotiations with these prospective buyers, Mr. Bout allegedly endorsed the trade when they mentioned using them against American pilots – responding “We have the same enemy” according to prosecutors records . His extradition and subsequent sentencing saw him serving 25 years imprisonment before being offered up as part of an exchange deal between Russia and U.S/Ukraine detainees last year; something which had been strongly contested since his arrest back in ’08 due Mr Bakt’s alleged innocence

Russian intelligence agencies’ commitment to ‘honor and ruthless pragmatism’, as described by Russia expert Mr. Galeotti, has sparked a priority effort in securing the return of Russian national Viktor Bout from U.S. custody — an undertaking conflictingly dismissed by Moscow’s stance on allegations that it purposely arrests Westerners for exchange negotiations purposes. While questions remain concerning whether or not this will prompt similar transactions in the future, one thing is certain: such commitments are essential when expecting agents to put themselves at risk abroad for their country’s interests .

Andrei Soldatov, a leading expert on Russian security services associated with the Center for European Policy Analysis, told reporters that extraditing Viktor Bout represented only one of many Russians in U.S. prisons – particularly those convicted of hacking-related crimes. Mr Soldatov went on to explain how Putin’s rise to power and his dealings with Chechnya in 2000s had taught Russia “the lesson” of obtaining “banks of hostages”, thus making it appear sensible from their point view when targeting American citizens through methods such as extradition since then.

Ivan Nechepurenko contributed reporting.

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