Did America-hater Griner Shake Hands With 'Merchant of Death' During Exchange?

Last week, the Russian state news agency TASS released footage showing the meeting on the airport tarmac in the United Arab Emirates, where Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and WNBA star Brittney Griner were exchanged.

In the clip, Griner and three Russian men approached Bout, who was accompanied by an American man. The men accompanying Griner shook hands and embraced Bout as they met. Then, suspiciously, the video cut to Griner leaving with the American man.

Related: WATCH: Russian Media Is Laughing at the U.S. Over Griner Swap

So, what happened during the jump? It has been widely speculated that the clip was edited to omit Griner shaking hands with the so-called “Merchant of Death.”

lol they edited out the shot of Griner shaking the merchant of death's handpic.twitter.com/w2cH32Ls4V

— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) December 9, 2022

Now we have a testimony of what may have happened.

“I wished her good luck, she even extended her hand,” Bout claimed to Russian state television. “Our tradition is to wish everyone good luck and happiness.”

Keep in mind that this comes from the “Merchant of Death,” so we don’t know if he’s telling the truth. He also claimed that the two spoke during the swap. According to Bout, “she was very positive towards me.”