2 years ago
36
Image source, Getty Images
Viktor Bout, known arsenic the merchant of death, is serving a 25-year condemnation successful the US
Russia is hopeful it tin hold a captive swap with the US that would see infamous arms trafficker Viktor Bout, known arsenic the merchant of death.
It is the archetypal clip US oregon Russian officials person publically said Bout could beryllium portion of an exchange.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said connected Friday helium hoped the imaginable of a swap had "strengthened".
The US has antecedently said it was anxious to organise a captive swap to merchandise US hoops subordinate Brittney Griner.
She was convicted of amerciable cause possession successful August aft cannabis lipid vapes were recovered successful her bags arsenic she tried to participate Russia.
The double-Olympic victor has been sent to a penal colony successful a distant portion south-east of Moscow.
On Friday Mr Ryabkov said a "common denominator" had not yet been reached betwixt the US and Russia, but "it is undeniable that Viktor Bout is among those who are being discussed [for exchange] and we surely number connected a affirmative result".
He besides said Bout had been "persecuted" successful the United States and wished him the "firmness of volition and spirit" to header with his incarceration.
Bout - a erstwhile Soviet aerial unit serviceman - was extradited from Thailand to the US successful 2010, aft a sting cognition by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
One of the world's astir infamous arms dealers, his exploits are truthful notorious that they person inspired a Hollywood movie and led to his nickname - the merchant of death.
He was sentenced to 25 years successful situation aft being recovered blameworthy of conspiracy to termination Americans and US officials, delivering anti-aircraft missiles and aiding a violent organisation.
He claimed helium was simply an entrepreneur with a morganatic planetary transport business, wrongly accused of trying to limb South American rebels - the victims of US governmental machinations.
But a assemblage successful New York did not judge his story.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,Brittney Griner is serving a nine-year jailhouse condemnation successful a penal colony successful Russia
There person been reports successful US media suggesting Russia was funny successful exchanging the arms trader for hoops prima Brittney Griner.
In July, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a "substantial offer" had been made to bring 2 American detainees location from Russia.
Griner was arrested astatine an airdrome adjacent Moscow successful February erstwhile cannabis lipid vapes were recovered successful her bags.
She said she had made an "honest mistake", but mislaid her entreaty against the condemnation successful aboriginal November and for immoderate clip it was not wide wherever she had been sent to service her nine-year sentence.
Earlier this week, her lawyers confirmed she is being held successful IK-2 women's penal colony successful the distant colony of Yavas successful Mordovia, 500km (310 miles) south-east of the capital.
There person besides been reports different American detainee could beryllium included successful a imaginable captive speech - Paul Whelan.
The erstwhile US marine, convicted arsenic an American spy, has been serving clip successful a Russian labour camp.
Mr Whelan - who besides has British, Irish and Canadian citizenship - has ever insisted connected his innocence.
English (US)