INSANE: 8 | Rare Historical Photos

Shadowy arms dealer Viktor Bout may be key to Russia's release of WNBA star Brittney Griner

WASHINGTON — Viktor Bout has long been the type of shadowy figure who inhabits spy novels, a convicted arms dealer who commanded a billion-dollar operation of aircraft fleets to supply weapons to notorious dictators, drug lords and armies fighting wars — and sometimes one another.

Los Angeles Times · Jul 30, 2022

Russia Wants Convicted Murderer to Be Added to Griner Swap, per Report

The country is reportedly seeking to include two Russian prisoners in the potential prisoner swap for the Mercury star and Paul Whelan.

Sports Illustrated · Jul 29, 2022

Secretary of State Blinken speaks to Lavrov for first time since Ukraine invasion to discuss prisoners and sanctions

Russian Foreign Minister gave no indication if they would accept the prisoner swap

The Independent UK · Jul 29, 2022

Russia says ‘no agreements yet’ on deal to free Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan

Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov says ‘no agreements’ have been ‘finalised’

The Independent UK · Jul 28, 2022

Brittney Griner lawyers welcome prospect of Russia prisoner swap

Arms trafficker Viktor Bout reportedly in line for exchange with the WNBA star facing drug charges

The Guardian - UK · Jul 28, 2022

What happened to WNBA star Brittney Griner and why is she detained in Russia?

Basketball icon has been detained in Moscow for five months and counting

The Independent UK · Jul 28, 2022

Kremlin poker-faced on US swap offer to free Griner, Whelan

The Kremlin has warned that a possible prisoner swap with the United States involving American basketball star Brittney Griner needs to be negotiated quietly without fanfare

The Independent UK · Jul 28, 2022

Russian arms dealer extradited from Thailand unaware of US swap: wife

A Russian arms trafficker who was arrested in Thailand and is serving a 25-year jail term in the United States knows nothing about a possible exchange with two US prisoners in Russia, his wife said.

Bangkok Post · Jul 28, 2022

Kremlin says no agreements yet on Griner prisoner swap

The Kremlin said on Thursday that there were no agreements yet on a possible prisoner swap involving jailed U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner, and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25 year sentence in the U.S.

Reuters · Jul 28, 2022

Who is Viktor Bout, Russian man at centre of US prisoner ‘swap’?

Reports say US has proposed to Russia to release convicted arms dealer for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.

Al Jazeera · Jul 28, 2022