Biden’s ‘Merchant of Death’ release backfires with shocking Russia revelation.

The “Merchant of Death” Returns: Viktor Bout Announces Run for Political Office in Russia

The man known as the “Merchant of Death,” who was famously traded by President Joe Biden for a U.S. basketball player convicted in Russia, is now making a bid for political power in his home country.

Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who spent a decade in U.S. prison for arming a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, was released by Biden in 2022 as part of a prisoner swap with WNBA player Brittney Griner.

Upon his return to Russia, Bout received a hero’s welcome and wasted no time in joining the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party. Now, he has announced his candidacy for the legislative assembly of the Ulyanovsk region in central Russia, according to Reuters.

“Bout had been nominated as a candidate for the legislative assembly of the Ulyanovsk region in central Russia,” the wire service said.

With his newfound political platform, Bout aims to further promote Russian nationalism and support President Vladimir Putin’s controversial actions, including the invasion of Ukraine.

It is worth noting that Bout is not the only notorious member of the LDPR. Party member Andrei Lugovoi, wanted in the U.K. for the murder of Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko, has served in Russia’s national parliament since 2007.

Viktor “Merchant of Death” Bout gained international notoriety when he was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the U.S. He faced charges related to arms dealing, conspiracy, and money laundering. In 2012, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

However, in a controversial move, the Biden administration offered Bout in exchange for Griner, and he was returned to Russia in December 2022.

Griner, on the other hand, faced legal troubles in Russia after being arrested for possessing an illegal drug. She was eventually convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. After her release and return to the U.S., Griner expressed a change in her views and no longer protests during the national anthem.

While Bout’s release may have backfired for the Biden administration, as he now seeks political power in Russia, the consequences of this decision remain to be seen.

Source: The Western Journal

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