Viktor Bout's Lawyer: U.S. Has 'Absolutely' Nothing To Fear

Lawyer Steve Zissou representing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death," has declared the U.S. "absolutely" has nothing to fear following his release.

Speaking on NewsNation on Saturday, Zissou said: "Does the U.S. have anything to fear from him? Absolutely not."

Bout, born in then-Soviet-governed Tajikistan, was freed on Thursday as part of a prisoner exchange for WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was being held in a Russian jail for possession of cannabis oil, that took place in the United Arab Emirates.

The 55-year-old had been serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and had been convicted of conspiring to kill Americans as well as supporting a terrorist organization.

He was arrested in Thailand back in 2008 by U.S. drug enforcement agents who posed as members of the Colombian guerrilla group FARC.

The exchange was criticized by conservatives in the U.S. including by former president Donald Trump as former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, arrested in Russia on suspicion of spying, remains in jail.

But Zissou insisted Bout wants "to put his family back together" and that the exchange for Griner was fair.

Zissou said: "It's fair because the U.S. government waited too long to be willing to trade Viktor. He's only got five years left of his sentence."

He later added: "By waiting so long, in effect, the Russians were unwilling to give up much for him, and Griner, it looks like, wasn't much to get for Viktor but the reality is the U.S. could have swapped him years ago for somebody else, maybe of higher value. But he's going home soon and the president [Joe Biden] did the courageous thing."

When asked if Bout would "seek revenge" on the U.S., Zissou insisted his client would not return to arms dealing.

Zissou continued: "No, for several reasons. One, he was already retired from that business when the DDA targeted him in 2008, or 2006 I should say.

"And the reality is arms dealing is no longer an individual enterprise. Countries control that business now. Russia has its arms dealerships, it is a major budget item in the U.S. our European allies are major arms dealers in the world - China is. These are ways that countries make money."

Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin and Michael Clark, visiting professor of Defence Studies at King's College London for comment.

According to Moscow-based news site, Gazeta.ru Bout said he would volunteer to fight in Ukraine if possible.

The Russian-state-owned outlet wrote on Twitter that Bout had said: "If I had the opportunity and the necessary skills, I would, of course, volunteer."

Its tweet referred to an article the publication published the same day, quoting an interview Bout gave to the state-controlled network Russia Today (RT) following his return to Moscow.

Bout also told RT that he believes the West wants to "destroy" and "divide" Russia.

He added: "The West believes that they did not finish us off in 1990 when the Soviet Union began to disintegrate…They think that they can just destroy us again and divide Russia."