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Russian arms dealer dubbed the 'Merchant of Death' - who the U.S. traded in exchange for WNBA star Brittney Griner - is running for office in Russia as a member of a far right political party
Daily Mail ^ | 7/03/23 | Laura Parnaby, Paul Farrell, Reuters

Posted on 07/03/2023 4:51:25 PM PDT by Libloather

A Russian arms dealer who the US traded in a prisoner swap for WNBA star Brittney Griner is running for office as a member of an ultra-nationalist party.

Viktor Bout, dubbed the 'Merchant of Death' by Western security services, has been nominated to run for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) in the Russian election next March, according to state news agency Rossiya Segodnya (RIA).

The 56-year-old has only been out of prison for six months, after serving 10 years of his 25-year sentence behind bars in Marion, Illinois, on arms dealing charges.

Bout, who is ostensibly from Tajikistan but holds multiple passports, was released in exchange for Olympic gold medalist Griner in December 2022.

His arrest came after he was snared by the DEA in a devilishly complicated sting operation in 2008 in which he thought he was selling arms to the FARC - Columbian rebels - to shoot down US passenger jets.

The US Department of Justice described him as one world's most prolific arms dealers, accusing him of selling weapons to terrorists across the globe, including many of America's enemies.

Bout has always denied the charges, and publicly joined the LDPR following his return to Russia.

Meanwhile, Griner was sentenced in 2022 to nine years in a penal colony for possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil - a banned substance in Russia - after a judicial process labeled a sham by Washington.

Houston-born Griner, 32, has since resumed her sports career.

Bout's bid to join the Russian regional legislature as a representative for the central region of Ulyanovsk was disclosed by a party official on Sunday, according to RIA.

Despite its name, the LDPR holds far-right, ultra-nationalist views and strongly supports President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; History; Local News
KEYWORDS: death; griner; russia; ukraine; victorbout; viktorbout; wnba
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A 7.62×54mmR in every pot?
1 posted on 07/03/2023 4:51:25 PM PDT by Libloather
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To: Libloather

“Far right.” Whenever I hear that I cannot help but think I am being subjected to propaganda.


2 posted on 07/03/2023 4:54:27 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew (Seriously.)
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To: Fester Chugabrew

What constitutes the “ far-right “ in Russia?

What do they believe?

These journalists are clueless.


3 posted on 07/03/2023 4:57:02 PM PDT by BrexitBen
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To: Fester Chugabrew

Far-right in Russia is almost completely communist.


4 posted on 07/03/2023 4:57:18 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel
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To: Fester Chugabrew

““Far right.” Whenever I hear that I cannot help but think I am being subjected to propaganda.”

Yep, they believe that Russia should be run by Russians, rather than Neocons and Globalists. Only TOTAL FASCISTS think that way, would you not agree? No? Why not?


5 posted on 07/03/2023 4:57:22 PM PDT by BobL (Trump has all the right Enemies; DeSantis has all the wrong Friends)
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To: All

Wonder what his view on gun rights are.


6 posted on 07/03/2023 4:58:35 PM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
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To: Fester Chugabrew
“Far right.” Whenever I hear that I cannot help but think I am being subjected to propaganda.

"Daily Mail." Whenever I read that I cannot help but think I am being subjected to propaganda. We're both right.

7 posted on 07/03/2023 5:04:06 PM PDT by Always A Marine ("When you strike at a king, you must kill him" - Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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To: Fester Chugabrew

Absolutely right.

Far right means that you are not supposed to like this person.

The German socialist Adolph Hitler was probably dubbed “far right” when he competed with communists for the socialist vote. His “far right” label probably disappeared when he allied himself with Joseph Stalin. Then when Hitler attacked Stalin, he may have even become “extreme far right.”

The left is easy to understand. It means socialism in its various forms. The right is everything else, monarchist, democrat, nationalist, republican, etc.

“Far right” or “extremist” are just labels to push you along.


8 posted on 07/03/2023 5:04:33 PM PDT by ChessExpert (Required for informed consent: "We have a new, experimental vaccine.")
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To: Fester Chugabrew

Yup-

Unsolicited qualifying remark = junk alert.


9 posted on 07/03/2023 5:08:52 PM PDT by Red6
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To: Fester Chugabrew

““Far right.” Whenever I hear that I cannot help but think I am being subjected to propaganda.”

My understanding of how “far right” is used in Russia is that he wants to prosecute the war harder. Some of the “far right” are advocating nuclear strikes and putting the Russian economy on a total war footing. Right now, Putin is trying to keep life in Russia looking normal. A total war footing would be everyone working for the government in some sort of war industry. Much like the Soviet war against WWII Germany. It would solve a few economic problems as everyone would eat what they got in a company cafeteria and there would be no pay.


10 posted on 07/03/2023 5:10:29 PM PDT by Gen.Blather (Wait! I said that out loud? )
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To: Libloather
So he's an anarchist?


11 posted on 07/03/2023 5:18:57 PM PDT by for-q-clinton (Cancel Culture IS fascism...Let's start calling it that!)
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To: Libloather
Russian arms dealer ... is running for office in Russia...

Sounds like the Russians are serious about the Second Amendment being promoted by politicians and office holders.

12 posted on 07/03/2023 5:21:39 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
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To: Libloather

(Brittney Griner)

Our national treasure...

Apparently.


13 posted on 07/03/2023 5:22:09 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: ChessExpert; Fester Chugabrew

Yep.


14 posted on 07/03/2023 5:30:55 PM PDT by Eagles6 (Welcome to the Matrix . Orwell's "1984" was a warning, not an instruction manual.)
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To: for-q-clinton

No.
Worse than that
He’s a Trump supporting republican


15 posted on 07/03/2023 5:32:32 PM PDT by himno hero (had'nff)
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To: Libloather
Let's be real about this. It has nothing to do with Brittany Griner,

Biden had to find a pretext to get Viktor Bout back to Putin.

16 posted on 07/03/2023 5:46:53 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: BrexitBen

These journalists are clueless.


Not only are the clueless, but they are insufferably incurious; incapable of asking questions that matter; puffed up with themselves; worthy of the utmost contempt.


17 posted on 07/03/2023 5:47:24 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew (Seriously.)
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To: Libloather

It would be so ironic (and delicious) if Viktor Bout were the one to drop a drone on Puppet Biden’s head. So let it be written and let it be said. /spit


18 posted on 07/03/2023 5:56:38 PM PDT by Flavious_Maximus (Tony Fauci will be put on death row and die of COVID!)
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To: SaveFerris

Id’a left that b there til she rotted in prison as an example. Say stupid sh!t about your country, suffer the consequences.


19 posted on 07/03/2023 6:44:42 PM PDT by technically right
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To: technically right

Works for me


20 posted on 07/03/2023 6:47:09 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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