Russian arms dealer freed in US prisoner swap joins right-wing party

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Freed from the US in a prisoner swap last week, Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has joined the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, the party’s chairman said on Monday.

“The party card of the Liberal Democratic Party was personally handed over today to Viktor Anatolyevich Bout at the rally dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of the party. We are the party of patriots! I am sure that Viktor Bout – a strong-willed and courageous person – will take a worthy place in it. Welcome to our ranks,” Leonid Slutsky said in a message online.

The ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia was formed in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, succeeding the Liberal Democratic Party of the Soviet Union. The party had been led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky since its formation until his death in April 2022.

In a high-profile prisoner swap, WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner was freed on Friday in exchange for Bout, an infamous arms dealer, who was incarcerated in the US.

Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 on charges of illegal arms deliveries, extradited to the US, and sentenced in 2012 to 25 years in prison.

Griner, meanwhile, was held in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on charges of illegal import of hashish oil and sentenced to nine years behind bars.

Griner returned to the US early on Friday and is undergoing a full medical and mental evaluation, according to an interview on Sunday by Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens on CNN.