“Merchant of Death” prisoner swap

The prisoner swap between Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and U.S.
basketball star Brittney Griner failed to include former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in Moscow in 2018
     

Brittney Griner – nine-year sentence in Russian prison for drug offence. 
Paul Whelan (inset) – 16 years on spy charges. Viktor Bout – 25 years in U.S. jail


Jan 13, 1967: Viktor Bout born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

1980s: Graduates from Military Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow – entry point for serving in Russian intelligence. Serves as translator in Soviet Army

1991: Following fall of Soviet Union, Bout runs network of air cargo companies, transporting Soviet-era weapons to conflict zones

Ilyushin 76 used by Air Cess and Air Pass, both companies run by Bout

1990s: Bout sells planeloads of arms to warlords across Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America

2000s: So-called Merchant of Death arms both Taliban and pro-Western Northern Alliance following U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Supplies weapons to groups in Africa, including Libya

Mar 2008: U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officers arrest Bout in hotel in Thailand

Nov 2010: Extradited to United States amid protests by Russia

Nov 2011: Court convicts Bout of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and providing aid to a terrorist organisation

2012: Bout begins 25-year prison sentence at United States Penitentiary Marion in Illinois

Jul 27, 2022: Biden administration offers to release Bout in exchange for Griner and Whelan
               
Aug 4-5: Griner jailed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (inset) says Moscow is ready to discuss prisoner swap
  
Dec 8: Russia and U.S. exchange Griner for Bout at Abu Dhabi airport – swap does not include Whelan


Sources: AFP, Reuters, UPI 
Pictures: Getty Images, DEA, Dmitry Avdeev 
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