Listen to the news

Viktor Bout's mother - Raisa Bout, thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin - Russian politician.

Born on October 7, 1952 in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. Prez and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the return of her son to the homeland.

Viktor Bout, serving a prison sentence in the United States, was exchanged for the American basketball player Britney Greiner, TASS recalls.

"Of course, thanks to our president, I think, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, I'm so grateful.

A deep maternal bow and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov," she said on the air of the television channel "Russia-24".

Viktor Bout's wife - Alla Bout told on the air of the TV channel that two days ago he did not know about the upcoming exchange.

"Victor and I spoke on Tuesday and he didn't know anything.

That was the other day.

Today he was supposed to call me again, we were waiting for him to call at eight in the evening, but we will see each other and hug instead of ringing, that will be the best, better than any ringing,” she said.

Alla Bout also thanked all the employees of the Russian Foreign Ministry and consular services who took part in the work on Bout's release.

Russia trades basketball player Britney Greiner for arms trafficker Viktor Bout

Vladimir Putin