Extradition deal
August 20, 2010
A court in Bangkok said that Viktor Bout, 43, must be extradited to the US within three months, or else permitted to go free, in keeping with Thailand's extradition rules.
Bout was arrested in Bangkok in March 2008 when he was caught in a sting operation led by US agents posing as arms buyers for the FARC rebel group, the leftist "Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia." The US then sought his extradition to face charges.
Last year the Bangkok Criminal Court rejected the extradition request on the grounds that Thailand deemed FARC a political rather than a terrorist group. Thai law prohibits extradition for political offenses.
However, the appeals court has now overturned that verdict, ruling that Bout had engaged in criminal activities.
Hollywood infamy
Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death," faces charges relating to arms trafficking in South America, the Middle East and Africa. He allegedly supplied weapons that fuelled civil wars, with clients including Liberia's Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi.
Bout's alleged exploits inspired the 2005 movie "Lord of War," starring Nicolas Cage.
Bout's lawyer in Thailand, Lak Nittiwattanawichan said, "the US government has interfered with our judicial system."
Support back home
Russia had pleaded with Thai authorities for Bout's freedom, claiming there was no proof that the former Soviet air force officer was an arms dealer.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow believes the ruling was made "under very strong external pressure."
"We regret this... unlawful political decision," Lavrov said during a visit to Armenia.
Bout faces life in prison if convicted in the US on terrorism charges.
Author: Joanna Impey (AFP/AP/dpa/Reuters)
Editor: Matt Hermann