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Narong Sangnak / EPA, file
Russia is furious over a 25-year prison sentence imposed on arms dealer Viktor Bout -- seen inside a cell at the criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand -- by a court in the U.S.
Moscow on Friday slammed the 25-year prison sentenced imposed on Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout by a U.S. court, saying repatriating the man known as the “Merchant of Death” would be “one of our top priorities in Russian-American relations.”
Bout was caught in an undercover sting in Bangkok in 2008 by U.S. agents posing as Colombian guerrillas seeking weapons and later extradited to New York.
He was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals and officers of the United States and one count each of conspiracy to sell anti-aircraft missiles and providing material support to a terrorist organization.
The judge said Thursday that sentencing guidelines called for a life sentence, which prosecutors requested, but said the fact that Bout's conduct was a result of a government sting operation was a mitigating factor despite his long history of arms dealing.
Russia 'not seeking revenge'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that he would discuss the sentence with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to Russia’s RIA Novosti news service.
“In this situation we are not seeking revenge, but want to help Viktor Bout. We are not proceeding by a desire to take revenge at any price, but by the desire to enforce the rights of our compatriot. We will actively support the appeal that Bout’s lawyers are going to file and will strive for his repatriation,” he added.
In a statement Russia’s foreign ministry said it would “take whatever action necessary to repatriate Viktor Bout back to his Motherland by any means within international law,” RIA Novosti reported.
“This issue will, without doubt, be one of our top priorities in Russian-American relations," it added.
March 6, 2008: A man the U.S. says is one of the world's biggest arms dealer was arrested in Thailand. MSNBC's Contessa Brewer talks with "Merchant of Death" author Steve Braun.
"In spite of the unreliability of the evidence, the illegal character of his arrest involving the participation of U.S. special service agents in Thailand and the subsequent extradition, American legal officials, having carried out a political order, ignored the arguments of lawyers and numerous appeals from all levels in defense of this Russian citizen," ministry statement said.
"Long before the sentence was given to Bout, the authorities declared him the 'Merchant of Death' and almost an international terrorist, but this accusation was based exclusively on his imputed 'criminal intent,’” it said.
NY judge gives Merchant of Death 25 years
The statement, as quoted by RIA Novosti, alleged that an attempt was made to force Bout to admit he was guilty “by creating unbearable conditions for detention, by both physical and psychological means. The absolutely unacceptable campaign by the American media was aimed at influencing the jury and the judicial process in the 'right direction.'"
Reputed $6 billion fortune
In court for the sentencing hearing Thursday, Bout blurted out “It’s a lie!” as the federal prosecutor argued unsuccessfully for a life sentence.
U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin said 25 years was sufficient and appropriate because there was no evidence the 45-year-old Bout would have been charged with seeking to harm Americans if not approached by informants posing as Colombian rebels. The judge also ordered a $15 million forfeiture.
"But for the approach made through this determined sting operation, there is no reason to believe Bout would ever have committed the charged crimes," she said.
For nearly two decades, Bout built a worldwide air cargo operation, amassing a fleet of more than 60 transport planes, hundreds of companies and a fortune reportedly in excess of $6 billion — exploits that were the main inspiration for the Nicholas Cage film "Lord of War."
His aircraft flew from Afghanistan to Angola, carrying everything from raw minerals to gladiolas, drilling equipment to frozen fish.
But, according to authorities, the network's specialty was black market arms — assault rifles, ammunition, anti-aircraft missiles, helicopter gunships and a full range of sophisticated weapons systems, almost always sourced from Russian stocks or from Eastern European factories.
In the months before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, U.S., British and United Nations authorities heard growing reports that Bout's planes and maintenance operations, then headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, were aiding the Taliban while it sheltered al-Qaida militants in Afghanistan.
Bout later denied that he worked with the Taliban or al-Qaida — and denied ever participating in black market arms deals.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
And we should all remember the open mic incident when obama was talking to pooptin.."after i'm elected i'll have more slack" this will be one of the russian criminals obama will give back...outright corruption and bribery.
Rotten beets in this borscht.
The sentence is CORRECT. ALL UN 5 snakes are Merchant of DEATH. CHINOS occupy TIBET through GUNS and Northern Indian States. And the litany goes on of all CRIMINAL 5's. Charity begins at HOME and STOP all trade with CHINA till they vacate occupied INDIAN AND TIBET countries. CAN JUDGE of NY be bold enough or US Supreme Court have GUTS to tell rest of branches to be HONEST? POWERFUL COUNTRIES will always enslave kill or subjugate the weak. God bless Honest Countries.
Then there is that saying: "the biggest dog gets the bitch", ever heard it? And the little ones may bark as long as they want and will only watch big brother getting the goodies.
what does this mean? this means any american business person can be a victim to another country's law enforcement outside their territory. Plus, Whatever happens to Interpol? Did somebody made interpol into the catholic Pope's personal hound (aka canine like hunter)? Did the catholic Pope blessed the Bout (merchant of death) and so Interpol didn't want to get involve leaving USA agents to task it alone in Thailand? Is it time to use a baseball bat on Interpol yet?
Just substitute the word "mosad" for the "Catholic Pope" and you are closer to truth
the national intelligence agency of Israel? I was talking about the catholic Pope. He didn't create Interpol, but somehow got credit for it and made use of it at his convenience. Ask the swiss if you don't believe me.
mosad is something usa military engage with... Unless you have desire to bleep on usa military radar. duck. see what i mean? they got itchy fingers and you're not a civilian anymore.
No brainer-Tell Russia if they back us 100% on Iran and Syria we will send him back home as long as they keep him there.
S/S Hilliary Clinton is faced with the Devil's alternative as predicted in the novel by that name by Frederick Forsyth with a
last-chance Soviet-American treaty. If Hilliary defeats the Devil, you know the Kingdom of God is here. And It's About Time Happy Easter all!!!
For a country like ours that does not have responsible gun control legislation on a nationwide basis and which (thanks to pressure from the NRA) failed to ratify an international treaty aimed at preventing small arms trafficking, it is sheer hypocrisy to jail Viktor Bout as a "merchant of death."
Poor refugee :)) Just watch the slippery soap Viki, I meant Viktor. :))
After Bubba is through with him he will be known as Viktoria.
Sell him back for 5 billion. If he is such a beloved citizen of the motherland they will pay. all exports and imports of arms should be halted world wide.
Sounds like justice is being served in this case. Yes, I'm sure he is innocent as he claims but evidence and the sting say other wise.
Of all the gulls of the russians. Selling arms from the USA. What do they do next?
Hes got money so he wont be in jail here long...a couple of mil for barry's re election campaign and he'll get a trip home on AF 1 and an tearful apology from the big "O".
Tell them not to get their knickers in a twist. Obama promised to sign his pardon AFTER the election. Now his problem is Barry isn't going to win. Sigh.
like it.
America is the world's largest weapons dealer. The charges against this guy are a sad joke from a bunch of gun carrying hypocrites. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Look at ALL of the countries and rebel armies we have armed throughout the years. Please don't throw any moral baloney at me. It just demostrates how uninformed you are being.
The US just wants to get rid of the private arms competition that Bout offered. He wasn't on the US payroll. C'mon now this is a joke. The United States govt is the biggest weapons dealer in the world. In fact all 5 nation on the UN Security Council all happen to be the 5 top weapons peddlers in the world. Who gave the Islamic Libyan Rebels arms, or the new "Syrian Free Army" for that matter? You got it, the NATO members of the UN Security Council. I wouldn't doubt US involvement either. The hypocrisy is just amazing, and the utter stupidity of Americans is equally amazing. Ignorance is bliss for sure!!!!!!!
This merchant of death should be hung.
He supplied far less arms to people than the US government did. The US government has more blood on their hands than this guy.
Russia is mad because he was their boy and wasn't necessarily a pawn of the CIA only. If you want a wuick way to understand how this all workds rent Cage's Lord of War. It was loosely based on Bout's life, but does a good job on explaining how the system works. The Security COuncil used to use gys like Bout to supply arms to the preferred factions without there being a direct link to any government. I guess the US doesn't care about being anonymous anymore, or Bout was too much of a homer any more for their liking. My guess was he probably because he supplied to nations or regimes that just didn't do what DC to them to.
Do any of you Dems. remember Hilliary Clinton slamming the Bush Admin. for its behavior toward our good friends the USSR when this current admin. took over. There was a toodo and video bit of her pressing a staples easy button with some russian diplomat in the photo op. Will some journalist read this and put that back in the news. I would love to be a fly on the wall when she has to deal with this. I would also like to remind all of you voters about the sound bite our current leader made recently to the current leader of Russia, it went something like have the new guy call me after the election , I will be in a better position to give you "something" after I fool the dumb american sheep again. Or something like that. All you Dems are the sheep by the way.
Maybe this Victor is the actual "flexibility" President Obama was referring to not just the missile shield in Middle East. Guess we will find out in November when the guy goes missing or just appears in Russia. Look for headlines in November or December if Obama is re-elected that says we have made an exchange or the conviction is overturned. Much simpler to use executive action in the field in cases like this.
Ask yourself: WHY would the Russians give a $hit? There can be only ONE reason. All the way up to Putin, they are in arms trading up to their eyeballs.
Ask yourself: WHY do we care if the Russians are in a rage?
Ask yourself: Could it be that the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about - is a competitor of Bout's?
Ask yourself: Would Dick Cheney know anything about that?
Why do you think we really invaded Iraq (the second time) or Afghanistan or have troops in Pakistan and slowly but surely are building up in Africa.
The Cold War isn't over. Not even CLOSE. We have simply changed the playing field. Now, we support our mutual arms industries by sponsoring PROXY WARS.
Here's an idea: Russia's PO'D about this guy in our jail for 25 years, right? How about cutting down his time in jail in exchange for Russia cutting off Syria, as well as Iran? I can live with that deal.
The old time honored way of dealing with this problem will probably be used. The Russian's will find an American breaking the rules (not hard with all the Americans working with the NGO's),grab him and sentence him to 25 years. Then have an exchange.
I think the Russians should snatch Obama he's broken every promise & rule that was ever written
Freaking stupid Russians!
This fukker is an arms dealer that was wanting to sell arms to the Columbian drug cartels!
Hope he rots in jail, and FUKK Russia!
Well if this guy is a merchant of death what are your presidents? Collectively they've destroyed innocent lives everywhere & then to top the insult off to the rational/thinking world they give Obama a Nobel Peace Prize! What the hell for?
He's brought no peace where ever they've decided to attack only misery is left, they haven't built the moral standing of the USA's policies....what has happened is you now have more enemies. The US is surrounding Russia with the AMD & think that the world including Russia is stupid enough to believe this is aimed @ Iran! Tell you now we don't smoke the same weed so we are capable of rational deduction. There was no smoking gun in Iraq & no wmds other than the ones supplied by the US that were destroyed in 1991.
The wholesale slaughter of civilians by proxy wars like Georgia in 2008 went horribly & quickly wrong when Russia's resolve was shown to be swift and decisive as Russia crushed the US & Israeli trained troops in 6 days not years. So when it comes to delivering death your presidents have to take top spot BUT they have yet to face an enemy who isn't going to run & hide so far you've had a pig shoot using your spotlights to stun your victim. That won't be the case when the president totally looses(too much weed) it & moves against Russia or China there will be no hiding the war will come home to the shores of the US. One of the oldest tactics is to allow your enemy to stretch their supply lines out then you attack cutting off your troops. At that point you have significant numbers of your troops in harms way (40K or 50K) & some fool some where in the pentagram will activate nuclear protocol.....then the chicken will come home. Time to rein in this insanity by this administration ..oh did I mention your president have repealed the posse comontatis provision so they can use the military against US citizens it must have slipped the news desks attention. DHS have bought 450 million rounds of hollow point munitions for domestic consumption (thats YOU)....read your own Declaration of Independence document it was like these great men had a crystal ball seeing Bush & Obama coming
Sounds like a terrorist to me :(