Viktor Bout, an arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death,” and the WNBA star briefly crossed paths on the tarmac. Griner has not commented on the alleged interaction.
Asked if Griner engaged with him during the high-level exchange, the 55-year-old said: “Yes, she did, and I felt she was very positive towards me.”
Edited video of the pair shared by Russian state media on Thursday does not appear to show the two conversing, and Griner has not commented on the alleged interaction. In the footage, Griner can be seen flanked by three Russian men in suits and Bout is accompanied by an American man in khakis. The two walk by each other on the tarmac before Bout embraces the Russian men and Griner leaves with the American.
Russian state media released this edited footage of the prisoner swap between Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout on Dec. 8. In his Saturday interview, Bout also expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, saying he believes Moscow should have launched military action “sooner.”“I fully support it,” he said of the war. “If I had the opportunity and the necessary skills, I would certainly volunteer.”
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