30 April 2012

Victor Bout: Merchant of Death



'Merchant of Death' Viktor Bout sentenced to 25 years
05 Apr 2012
Arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the "merchant of death", has been sentenced to 25 years in jail by a US judge.

Extradition of 'arms dealer' Viktor Bout goes ahead
16 Nov 2010
Alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout is on his way to the United States from Thailand after being extradited to face charges of conspiring to sell weapons.

Bout extradition: Russia criticizes US pressure
16 Nov 2010
Russia has described as a "blatant injustice" Thailand's decision to extradite alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the US to face charges of conspiring to sell weapons. The former Russian air force officer, 43, has been accused of trying to sell arms to Colombian rebels, and supplying weapons that fuelled conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.

Thailand to extradite Viktor Bout to US
20 Aug 2010
A Russian man suspected of selling arms to insurgent groups around the world is to be extradited to the United States, a court in Thailand has ruled. Mr Bout - dubbed the Merchant of Death - was detained in a joint Thai-US sting operation in March 2008. Mr Bout, a former Soviet air force officer, faces US charges of conspiring to kill Americans, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and conspiring to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile. American authorities lodged two further charges of money-laundering and electronic fraud. Officials say he supplied arms to warlords, al-Qaeda and the Taliban. United Nations agencies and several Western governments have reported that Mr Bout has delivered arms to warlords in Africa and Afghanistan. Russia has condemned the decision and said it would work to secure his return. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the ruling as "unlawful" and said his government believed it was made "under very strong external pressure".




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