U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that Russia had presented a significant offer to release American citizens Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner. It later emerged that this proposal was linked to a trade involving Viktor Bout, a businessman with a long and controversial history. President Joe Biden publicly supported pursuing this exchange format.
Blinken said the priority would be to secure the return of Whelan and Griner, stressing that bringing them home is of utmost importance.
He also noted plans to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the first time since Russia began its military operation in Ukraine, signaling a potential step toward direct diplomatic dialogue on the case.
Public remarks indicated support for Biden’s plan to trade Bout for Griner and Whelan. Reports from CNN suggested that Russia had submitted its proposal in June, though details remained undisclosed while officials awaited a response.
David Whelan, brother of Paul Whelan, expressed hope that Moscow would approve the swap, while providing few specifics about the deal under consideration.
Kremlin’s reaction
The Kremlin offered no comment on discussions about a potential Bout-for-Griner-and-Whelan exchange. “No comment,” stated Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian president.
History of Viktor Bout
Viktor Bout has remained in U.S. custody since March 6, 2008. A U.S. court found him guilty of arms trafficking and conspiring with terrorist networks, sentencing him to 25 years in prison in 2012. Western media have dubbed him an “arms lord” and a “death dealer.”
Bout began as an aviation broker in 1991 and by 1992 was operating in South Africa, coordinating air transport. In the mid-1990s, media investigations linked his activities to illicit arms shipments to embargoed regions, including Afghanistan, Angola, and parts of Africa. He was associated with groups deemed terrorist organizations by many jurisdictions, and press reports connected him to negotiations around freeing a Russian crew seized in Afghanistan in 1995.
Beyond business, Bout’s name has surfaced in United Nations Security Council documents, Amnesty International reports, and U.S. State Department records regarding illicit weapons transfers circumventing sanctions. Despite these concerns, some Bout-controlled entities reportedly supported U.S. military efforts in Iraq after 2003.
Throughout the early 2000s, Bout faced various legal and diplomatic restrictions. He left the United Arab Emirates in 2001 and faced money-laundering and diamond-smuggling accusations in Belgium in 2002. A UN travel ban followed, and assets were frozen by the UN and the United States in 2005. He was detained in Bangkok in 2008 and later extradited to the United States on November 17, 2010.
In 2011, a New York jury convicted Bout on multiple counts including conspiracy related to the murder of U.S. citizens, arms trafficking, and support for terrorist activities in connection with the FARC. His sentencing in 2012 faced intense debate, with prosecutors seeking life imprisonment. Attempts to secure his release have occurred over the years, including discussions tied to international transfer agreements on sentenced persons. Some sources have projected a possible release date in 2029, barring new developments.
Brittney Griner’s story
Brittney Griner is widely regarded as a leading figure in women’s basketball. She is a two-time Olympic champion with the United States and a World Championship winner. Griner traveled to Russia to join UMMC Ekaterinburg in 2015, contributing to domestic success and making the team a mainstay in European competitions.
On February 17, 2022, Griner traveled from New York to Moscow and was detained at Sheremetyevo Airport after a service dog indicated prohibited items in her luggage. Investigators later found vape cartridges containing a substance restricted in Russia. The U.S. side has questioned the legality of her arrest.
Griner faced charges under Russian criminal statutes related to drug offenses. In July 2022, she wrote a letter to President Biden urging action to secure her release, emphasizing the urgency of returning home to her family and teammates. Politico reported the content of that letter, along with Griner’s appeals to the U.S. administration for assistance.
She indicated that she hoped for prompt resolution and noted the emotional strain of separation from loved ones and colleagues. Griner later testified about detention conditions and described her patience while awaiting court proceedings and a decision on her case.
During interrogation in Khimki, Griner explained the cannabis products in her possession were prescribed by medical professionals and that there was no intent to violate Russian law.
The Paul Whelan Story
Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen and former safety director at a major auto parts company, was accused of espionage after authorities alleged he collected classified information in Russia and attempted recruitment of local security personnel. He was detained in Moscow in December 2018 after a flash drive with sensitive data was found in his possession. Whelan faced charges under Russia’s espionage statutes, with potential penalties that could include lengthy imprisonment.
Details from Whelan’s family indicate that his arrest occurred amid personal circumstances and social events in Moscow. Whelan’s background includes multiple citizenships, with passports from the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. He also served in the U.S. Army in Iraq from 2003 to 2008.
In June, a Moscow court handed down a 16-year sentence in a strict-regime penal colony following the espionage case. This outcome has been contested by the Whelan family and supporters who argue the arrest and proceedings were improper and politically charged.