Russian businessman Viktor Bout promoted the idea that prisoners should participate in hostilities rather than serve their sentences in colonies and prisons. He talked about this in an interview with socialbites.ca.
Booth in particular believes that this practice is explained by historical tradition.
“I think this is a very good undertaking, because firstly, prisoners are people with a lot of energy, and secondly, they are probably psychologically prepared to be on the front lines, well, tradition sheds one’s blood. Sins in Russia have been around for a very long time. And in principle, honor is praise for the dead, for those who have done heroic deeds, and the survivors will take their rightful place in the future. And most importantly, for them, PMCs are a chance to change their destiny and be beneficial to society,” he said.
Bout has been serving a 25-year sentence in the United States since 2012 on charges of conspiracy to kill Americans, arms trafficking, and financial support for terrorism. On December 8, 2022, he returned to Russia as a result of the exchange with the American side.
Since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, prisoners have been given the opportunity to join the Wagner PMC. According to the head of the military company Yevgeny Prigozhin, 5 thousand people forgiven after the end of the contract. Recruitment among inmates is currently halted.
The full version of the interview with Viktor Bout will be published on the socialbites.ca website on April 7 at 9 am.