Alla, the spouse of Russian businessman Viktor Bout, asserted that a Telegram channel which had appeared earlier and was claimed to belong to her husband had no connection to him. The statement was conveyed by TASS.
Alla emphasized, in clear terms, that Viktor Bout currently does not run any Telegram channel. She described the circulating news that claims a link to his supposed channel as false, a maneuver to mislead the public, and outright fabrication.
She added that if there were any genuine news or confirmation about her husband’s official channel, people would learn about it through verified channels and direct statements from the family or Bout’s representatives.
According to Alla, Viktor Bout does not use modern devices at present and continues to rely on a basic button phone. She noted that his eyesight is severely diminished, which makes it difficult for him to use more advanced technologies or compose messages on his own.
Viktor Bout previously faced a 25-year prison sentence in the United States on charges related to planning violence against Americans and providing material support to terrorism. Recently, there was international attention when American basketball star Brittney Griner was exchanged in a transfer at an Abu Dhabi airport, a swap that drew extensive media coverage. This development is part of ongoing reporting around Bout’s case and related legal proceedings in international media outlets. [TASS attribution]
Earlier records indicate Bout was associated with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), and there were reports that the party ticket had been issued to him personally by its leader. The involvement of the LDPR in such matters has been a point of discussion in political circles, especially regarding how public figures relate to political organizations during periods of legal contention. [TASS attribution]