Victor Bout reveals what he told Brittney Griner during the exchange / News - Basketnews.com

Viktor Bout wished Brittney Griner good luck, he told.

Credit: Russian State Media Credit Russian State Media

Brittney Griner was freed from a prison in Russia in exchange for an arms dealer Viktor Bout on Thursday.

The move is being questioned for a possibly uneven return between the USA and Russia. The Washington Post reports, for example, that the US Department of Justice viewed the prisoner swap as a mistake due to the vastly differentiating level of offense committed by the two people.

In view of the event, Bout has given an interview to Russia Today where he extensively talked about his life in an American prison and criticized the West. In a 43-minute interview, he also shared what he said to Griner during the exchange in the Abu Dhabi Airport where the mission was carried out.

"I wished her good luck, she even extended her hand," Bout told. "Our tradition is to wish everyone good luck and happiness."

Called The Merchant of Death, Bout has been involved in supplying weapons for multiple violent regimes and military groups in the entire world, which earned him a 25-year sentence. Griner, on the other end, was detained in Russia while carrying a cannabis oil cartridge in her luggage and was sentenced to 9 years in jail.

The Brittney Griner-Viktor Bout exchange:

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