A notorious arms dealer urged Trump to flee to Russia

In December, during a high-profile prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington, V. Butas, also known as the “Death Merchant”, was exchanged for US basketball star Britney Griner.

“I think your life is in danger,” V. But wrote in the Telegram app, sent the message to D. Trump and showed it to press representatives in Moscow. “The Biden administration will not stop at dragging you around the courts and the prison industrial complex,” he wrote, referring to Trump’s successor, Joe Biden. “They would rather take your life than let you stand across the road,” V. Butas added.

He told Trump, a longtime admirer, that he would find him “a safe haven and from there you can lead the fight for the American people.”

V. Butas served a 25-year sentence in a US prison, but was exchanged for B. Griner, who joined the Russian Nationalist Party. He was accused of supplying weapons to rebels involved in one of the world’s bloodiest conflicts, in 2008. was arrested in Thailand during an operation organized by the United States, extradited to the United States of America and released in 2012. convicted.

Washington and Moscow have held several prisoner exchanges in recent years, but several Americans are still being held in Russia. Last week, US journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia and charged with espionage. This outraged the international community, with Washington calling the accusations “absurd”.