Viktor Bout, convicted in the United States for arms trafficking and supporting terrorism and recently returned to Russia as a result of an exchange, joined the Liberal Democratic Party, RIA Novosti reports .
The LDPR press service published a video on its Telegram channel in which Bout thanks LDPR chairman Leonid Slutsky and party founder Vladimir Zhirinovsky "for their help in getting me out of captivity in the United States."
“For many years in the dungeons – and today he is with us. And we will return everyone who is in trouble outside the homeland, we will take care of them, and they will also be with us, ”Slutsky promised, welcoming Bout.
Bout was detained in Bangkok in 2008 on the basis of an American warrant, on charges of illegally supplying weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia group. In 2010, he was extradited to the United States. In April 2012, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined $15 million.
On December 8, Bout was exchanged for American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was convicted in Russia for importing drugs. Both Booth and Greiner were pardoned prior to the exchange and should not serve the remainder of their sentences in their home countries.