The fate of two Americans held in Russia may depend on the release of a convicted Russian arms dealer whose accusers dubbed him the “Merchant of Death” and whose life story was made into a Hollywood movie.
Former Soviet military officer Viktor Bout has been incarcerated in the United States for 25 years after being found guilty of conspiring to kill Americans, purchasing and selling anti-aircraft missiles, and granting material support to a terrorist group.
However, Bout adamantly claims his innocence. Aside from all this, here are some personal details about Viktor, including his wife and children.
Where Is Viktor Bout And What Did He Do?
Based on a detention warrant issued by a local court at the request of the United States, Viktor Bout was arrested in the Thai capital of Bangkok in 2008.
Similarly, he was accused of conspiring to ship weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which Washington considers a terrorist group.
Likewise, Bout was returned to the US by extradition in 2010 and received a 25-year prison term and a $15 million fine in April 2012.
Viktor Bout Wife Alla Bout: Where Is She Now?
Viktor Bout has been married to his wife, Alla Bout, for over 29 years. According to Taiwan News, his wife is a 52-year-old fashion designer.
Aside from that, the couple got married in 1992, and it is believed that the woman is currently in Moscow, seeking to figure out a way to get her spouse back to her while he is in Marion Prison in Illinois, completing his term.
According to Alla in a 2009 article, the pair relocated back to Russia in 2001 after Bout’s firm failed due to heightened competition. The couple had previously lived in South Africa for several years.
Also Read: Carey Latimore Obituary And Cause Of Death: What Happened To The Trinity University Professor?
Meet Viktor Bout Daughter Elizaveta Bout
The daughter of Russian tycoon Viktor Bout, who is currently serving a 25-year term in a US prison, Elizaveta Bout, 28 (also pronounced “Yelizaveta”), has decided to visit her father while he is in detention.
Alla Bout, Viktor Bout’s wife, and their young daughter have decided to prolong their journey to the US in 2019, so they can continue to visit their father and better half in prison, as per TASS.
They did, however, go back to Moscow, Russia, where they now dwell.
Besides, Viktor’s first encounter with his family in Marion Federal Prison was in the middle of September, after getting his 2012 sentence.
Plus, Alla Bout asserts that her husband has taken proactive measures to maintain his mental health. She claimed it’s not that strenuous once you’re focused on something.
In Other News: Officer Daniel Vasquez Obituary: The North Kansas City Police Officer Was Shot Dead At A Traffic Stop
Viktor ‘Merchant of Death’ Bout Release Date
The Russians have long demanded Bout’s release, calling the 2012 sentence he received “baseless and prejudiced.”
According to those briefed on the situation, Bout was offered by the Biden administration in exchange for Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, and Paul Whelan, a former US Marine, per CNN on Wednesday.
The FARC, a guerrilla organization that carried out an insurgency in Colombia until 2016, was the prosecution’s focus because of Bout’s role in providing them with weapons that were allegedly designed to kill US citizens, according to the US.