The prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, carried out on August 1, was the largest since the Second World War. This was stated by entrepreneur Viktor Bout, who himself returned to his homeland after 14 years in a US prison.
“Indeed, it was a unique exchange. Probably the biggest since the Second World War. But the most important thing is that this is the result of the work done by our special services, representatives of the Foreign Ministry and everyone else involved in this process. Because to gather and make an international exchange in such conditions is, of course, an achievement,” Bout said on Channel Five.
He also called this exchange a “victory for Russia.” The businessman stressed that over the past 15 years, about 50 Russians have been convicted in the United States on fictitious charges.
“As a rule, this is collusion, especially cyber fraud or some other far-fetched. There doesn’t even have to be an evidence base for an American court. It is necessary to prove only the fact of collusion and that’s it,” the interlocutor explained.
Victor Booth also recalled his history of imprisonment. He was detained in 2008 in Bangkok on the basis of a warrant issued by a local court at the request of the American authorities. A Russian citizen was accused of illegally supplying weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebel group, which the US authorities consider a terrorist organization. Two years later, Booth was extradited to the United States, and in April 2012 he was sentenced to 25 years in prison and a fine of $ 15 million.
He was returned to Russia on December 8 after 14 years in prison in the United States. This was preceded by an agreement between Moscow and Washington on the exchange of a Russian for American basketball player Brittney Griner. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the negotiations were long because Washington did not want to include Bout in the exchange scheme. Thanks to all the efforts, the entrepreneur returned home.