INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia and the United States on Thursday conducted a one-for-one prisoner swap that secured the release of American basketball star
after being convicted of a handful of offenses by the United States courts, including conspiracy to kill Americans, acquisition and export
of anti-aircraft missiles, and provision of material support to a terrorist organization.Throughout his two-decade criminal career Bout is
believed to have aided both rebels and legitimate governments in an array of conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Yemen, and the
was born in Dushanbe, the capital of modern Tajikistan that was then part of the Soviet Union
He was educated and built a career in the Soviet military system and is believed to be fluent in six languages, including Arabic, Persian,
self-made entrepreneur first used his newly acquired fleet to import flowers from South Africa to the Middle East, before turning his focus
to weapons as his business grew.Famously known to have sold arms to parties on both sides of the same conflict, Bout was on the radar of the
United States intelligence services and was for years under a range of sanctions, though for the most part managed to hide in plain
United States and Interpol
