Entrepreneur Viktor Bout, who returned to Russia after being released from an American prison, suggested that basketball player Brittney Griner, whom he was traded for, would have received a lighter sentence in Russia if he had not been a US citizen. He expressed this opinion in an interview with socialbites.ca.
In March 2022, Greiner was detained while passing through customs with a bottle of cannabis oil. He was charged with drug trafficking and possession. On August 4, the court found Greiner guilty and sentenced him to nine years in prison. He was replaced by Booth on December 8 and returned to the US.
“He knew very well that although this cannabis oil is allowed in the USA, these substances are prohibited in Russia. I made a mistake here. Well, for example, if it was a basketball player from a friendly country, of course, the decision might have been different, but get this right: there are currently about 56 or 57 Russians in prison in America, most of whom have been extradited. third countries involved in fictitious charges <…> You see, Griner committed this crime, well, no one is denying the truth, not even he is denying it. And compare with my situation,” said Booth.
The full version of the interview with Viktor Bout will be published on the socialbites.ca website on April 7 at 9 am.