At the center of a proposed swap for Brittney Griner is Viktor Bout, likely the highest profile Russian in U.S. custody. He has been called "one of the world's most prolific arms dealers," and Russian officials have been pressing for his release since 2011.[_link] pic.twitter.com/FPeEQdCXZZ

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 28, 2022

Viktor Bout: Pentagon contract for Bout Airlines Sharjah UAE to Baghdad

Related reading ...

• The Rise and Fall of Viktor Bout, the Merchant of Death | Spiegel - June 2010 |
• Blacklisted Russian Tied to Iraq Deals | LA Times - Dec. 14, 2004 |

Among the firms holding U.S. government contracts that officials said were using the network's services: FedEx and KBR. The latter, formerly known as Kellogg Brown & Root, is a subsidiary of Halliburton, the Houston conglomerate formerly headed by Vice President Dick Cheney and holder of a massive no-bid contract for reconstruction projects in Iraq.

'Sapere aude'