Russian Arms Dealer Victor Bout Reveals What He Said To Brittney Griner At Prisoner Exchange
On Dec. 8, the U.S. swapped WNBA superstar Brittney Griner for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death,” after months of negotiations. Bout, who served 14 years in a U.S. prison and was scheduled to be released in 2029, has revealed the brief words he said to Griner during the swap.
According to Reuters, Bout, 55, said in a Dec. 10 interview with Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT, "I wished her luck, she even sort of reached out her hand to me… Again, it's our tradition. You should wish everyone good fortune and happiness.” He also added Griner "was positively inclined" towards him.
Conservative pundits have been critical of the swap because it was Griner instead of former businessman and U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. He had served four years of a six-year sentence after being accused of espionage by the Russian government. However, as the Biden administration has repeatedly said, Whelan was not offered by Russia, it was Griner or nothing.
Whelan’s family supported Griner’s release. David Whelan, Paul Whelan’s brother, said in a statement shortly after it was announced that the Phoenix Mercury player would be freed from the Russian labor camp, "It is so important to me that it is clear that we do not begrudge Ms. Griner her freedom. As I have often remarked, Brittney's and Paul's cases were never really intertwined. It has always been a strong possibility that one might be freed without the other."
In February, Griner, who had been playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, was arrested by the Russian Federal Customs Service at Sheremetyevo Airport near Moscow. Agents accused her of having hashish oil vape cartridges in her luggage. After being convicted, sentenced to 9 years, spending nearly a month in a labor colony, and being held in Russia for 294 days, the 32-year-old was released on Thursday (Dec. 8).
While Griner has not made a public statement, spokespeople for the White House said she is talkative, in “very good spirits,” and in “good health.”
