The Russian government denies allegations linking arms dealer Viktor Bout to weapons deals with Islamist militants in Yemen. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports as fake news intended to smear Russian officials.
The Wall Street Journal claimed Bout facilitated the sale of small arms, including Kalashnikov assault rifles, to the Houthi militant group. Despite this, Bout commended the group for shooting down US drones with limited resources.
Bout dismissed the article as a targeted attack coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s birthday. He accused the US media of using his name to sensationalize the situation in Yemen.