Russia warms to U.S. prisoner swap for arms trader Bout - Reuters

LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Russia said connected Friday it hoped to clinch a captive swap with the United States to instrumentality convicted Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, known arsenic the "Merchant of Death", successful an speech that would apt see U.S. hoops prima Brittney Griner.

Amid the deadliest warfare successful Europe since World War Two, Russia and the United States are exploring a woody that could spot imprisoned Americans including Griner instrumentality to the United States successful speech for Bout.

"I privation to anticipation that the imaginable not lone remains but is being strengthened, and that the infinitesimal volition travel erstwhile we volition get a factual agreement," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted arsenic saying by Interfax.

"The Americans are showing immoderate outer activity, we are moving professionally done a peculiar transmission designed for this," Ryabkov said. "Viktor Bout is among those who are being discussed, and we surely number connected a affirmative result."

For the 2 erstwhile Cold War foes, present grappling with the gravest confrontation since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the speech would people 1 of the much bonzer captive swaps successful their history.

The distinctly upbeat remarks from Ryabkov, the overseas ministry's constituent antheral for the Americas and arms control, opposition with erstwhile statements from Moscow which person cautioned Washington against trying to prosecute successful megaphone diplomacy implicit the captive swap.

The imaginable swap includes Griner, facing 9 years down bars successful Russia aft being convicted connected cause charges, and Paul Whelan who is serving a 16-year condemnation successful Russia aft being convicted of espionage charges that helium denies.

BOUT FOR GRINER

Variously dubbed "the merchant of death" and "the sanctions buster" for his quality to get astir arms embargoes, Bout was 1 of the world's astir wanted men anterior to his 2008 apprehension connected aggregate charges related to arms trafficking.

For astir 2 decades, Bout was 1 of the world's astir notorious arms dealers, selling weaponry to rogue states, rebel groups and murderous warlords successful Africa, Asia and South America.

But successful 2008, Bout was snared successful an elaborate U.S. sting.

Bout was caught connected camera agreeing to merchantability undercover U.S. agents posing arsenic representatives of Colombia's leftist FARC guerrillas 100 surface-to-air missiles, which they would usage to termination U.S. troops. Shortly afterwards, helium was arrested by Thai police.

Bout was tried connected the charges related to FARC, which helium denied, and successful 2012 was convicted and sentenced by a tribunal successful Manhattan to 25 years successful prison, the minimum condemnation possible.

Ever since, the Russian authorities has been keen to get him back.

Griner has been transferred to a penal colony successful the Mordovia region, southeast of Moscow, her lawyers said connected Thursday, confirming a Reuters report.

At her trial, Griner - who played hoops for a Russian squad successful the U.S. off-season - said she had utilized cannabis for alleviation from sports injuries but had not meant to interruption the law. She told the tribunal she made an honorable mistake by packing the cartridges successful her luggage.

Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Mark Trevelyan

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