Viktor Bout Denies Yemen Arms Deal Allegations

Viktor Bout, the infamous Russian arms dealer freed in a 2022 U.S. prisoner exchange, has denied allegations reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that he is brokering arms deals with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants. Bout described the claims as 'fake news' and a marketing strategy by the WSJ, coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday. He asserted that the Kremlin labels these reports as 'fakes', with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating they are aimed at damaging Russia's image. The WSJ report suggested that Bout was approached by Houthi representatives in Moscow to negotiate a $10 million arms deal, which has yet to be finalized. While Bout praised the Houthis for their military success, he has distanced himself from any current arms dealings. His attorney also declined to comment on the reported meeting with Houthi representatives.