BREAKING: US has traded Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout (Merchant of Death) for Brittney Griner

[Woody]

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/08/americas/viktor-bout-profile-prisoner-swap-intl/index.html

On Thursday, a source told CNN that the US basketball star had been released from Russian detention in a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, nicknamed the “Merchant of Death” by his accuser.

Bout, a former Soviet military officer, was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and provide material support to a terrorist organization. Bout has maintained he is innocent.

The Kremlin has long called for his release, slamming his sentencing in 2012 as “baseless and biased.”

“Viktor Bout has been international arms trafficking enemy number one for many years, arming some of the most violent conflicts around the globe,” said Preet Bharara, the US attorney in Manhattan when Bout was sentenced in New York in 2012.

https://twitter.com/AndrewW66619812/status/1600846414506229762

[Woody]

This is possibly the worst prisoner exchange in history, no wonder Biden waited until after the midterms (and GA runoff) to announce it. So I guess it's now open season on American citizens in even midly hostile territory abroad? Since the precedent has been set that a D-list celebrity can be swapped with a powerful/dangerous arms dealer.

Explain.

International arms trafficker and supplier of African/ME/South American warlords with arsenals worth several billion dollars = basketball player?

No offense to Brittney

[Woody]

[Woody]

Ah yes it's great that we freed the literal Merchant Of Death to get an athlete back. I don't care that this is a terrible trade. Luuuuv her identity categories, slaaaay qween!

For the record, I'd oppose this even if it was both Whelan and Griner. Viktor Bout should not be freed under any circumstance.

Bout is being freed anyway in a decade.

By "freed", you mean extradited to other countries which also wish to press charges.

?? Wut

Bout is not wanted by any agencies in Russia nor under any charges.

The whole Kremlin narrative was that he was an innocent guy.

[Woody]

Back in business:

https://twitter.com/w3bsag3/status/1602715474629795840
https://twitter.com/ilciclistainblu/status/1602692288358096899