Russian Arms Dealer Exchanged For Brittney Griner Joins Putin-Loyal Ultranationalist Party

Viktor Bout, a former K.G.B. officer and a personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has joined the Kremlin-loyal ultranationalist political party. 

What Happened: Bout, who was freed on Thursday by the U.S. in exchange for American basketball star Brittney Griner from detainment in Moscow, joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), its leader announced on Monday.

“I want to thank Viktor Anatolievich (Bout) for the decision he has made and welcome him into the ranks of the best political party in today’s Russia,” said LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky, standing on a stage beside Bout in a video posted on Telegram, according to Reuters.

Despite its name, Russia's LDPR, since its founding in 1991, espoused a hardline, ultranationalist ideology, demanding Moscow reconquer the former Soviet Union countries.

The founder of Russia's LDPR, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, had gained a reputation as a political showman for his outrageous stunts before his passing away in April. 

The party has a history of recruiting controversial personalities, including Andrei Lugovoy in 2007. Lugovoy, a former KGB spy wanted in Britain for the murder the previous year of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko was elected to parliament for the same party.

Popularly known as ‘Merchant Of Death,’ Bout on Saturday told Russian media that he “wholeheartedly” supports Putin’s “military operation” in Ukraine and that if he had the opportunity and necessary skills, he would “certainly go as a volunteer.”