Arms Trafficker and 'Merchant of Death' Becomes Election Candidate in Russia

Victor Bout, the Russian arms trafficker known as the 'Merchant of Death,' who was freed in a prisoner swap for American basketball star and Olympic medalist Britney Griner, is running for local elections in Russia on behalf of an extreme right party. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Sunday that Bout, who was released last December in a prisoner exchange for Griner, has been selected as a candidate for the 'Liberal Democratic Party' to vie for a seat in the regional parliament of Russia. Once labeled by the United States as the 'Merchant of Death,' he served 10 years of a 25-year sentence for arms trafficking in U.S. prisons until his release in exchange for Griner. RIA Novosti quoted an official from the 'Liberal Democratic Party' stating that Bout is a candidate for the legislative assembly of the Ulyanovsk region in central Russia. Bout was arrested in 2008 during a U.S. operation in Thailand. The U.S. Department of Justice described him as one of the world's most significant arms dealers, selling weapons to terrorists and America's enemies for decades. He has always denied these charges. Britney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2022 on drug charges after a trial that Washington called fabricated. She was exchanged for Bout after about ten months in custody. After returning to Russia, Bout joined the 'Liberal Democratic Party,' which, contrary to its name, holds extreme right-wing and nationalist views and strongly supports Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The 'Liberal Democratic Party' previously provided a home for Andrei Lugovoi, who is wanted in Britain for the murder of a former KGB officer in 2006. Lugovoi has been a member of this party in the Russian national parliament since 2007. An American journalist remains detained; the U.S. ambassador criticized Russia's 'hostage diplomacy.' Russian officials have called for adding a killer to the prisoner exchange proposal. The U.S. has offered a prisoner exchange to Russia. Protests against the detention of the American basketball star in Russia are increasing.