‘Hope dies last’: Bout awaits sentence in US

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Published time: April 05, 2012 10:43
Edited time: April 06, 2012 01:10

Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout (front C) is escorted by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers after arriving at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York, in this November 16, 2010. (Reuters / U.S. Department of Justice/Handout / Files)

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Arms, Crime, Law, Politics, Protest, Scandal, USA

A New York court is preparing to sentence Russian businessman Viktor Bout later Thursday, after he was found guilty of assisting terrorism and conspiring to kill Americans. Bout could face from 25 years to life in prison.

US federal prosecution is demanding a life sentence for the Russian national. The verdict is due to be passed by the US District Judge Shira Scheindlin.

Viktor Bout insists all accusations against him are false and politically-motivated. Bout’s lawyers say that their client was intentionally pictured as an “enemy of the American people” in order to drive the jury into a “blind rage”, leading to his conviction in November 2011.

Despite all the recent developments, Bout’s defense lawyer, Viktor Burobin, said that “hope dies last” and his client remains optimistic. According to the lawyer, Viktor Bout believes that the Russian authorities should be able to help him.

After the verdict is passed, defense intends to appeal to a higher court. After all appeals are exhausted, Russian authorities may also request that US authorities allow Bout to serve his sentence in Russia.

The Russian businessman was arrested in Thailand 2008 on the US’s demand after meeting the American agents in disguise. In November 2010 he was extradited to the USA.

On November 2, 2011 Bout was found guilty of all charges pressed against him, including conspiracy to kill US nationals, including military officers and employees, conspiring to use anti-aircraft missiles and providing material support to the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Force of Colombia. FARC is considered a terror group by the US.

The evidence included Viktor Bout’s hand-written notes, personal computer data and records of his negotiations with the US Drug Enforcement Administration agents in the guise of FARC commanders. However, Bout pledged innocence saying that he just wanted to sell his planes.

The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that the US authorities failed to provide sufficient evidence of Bout’s guilt and built all prosecution on persuading the jury of the businessman’s non-existent crimes. In his interview to the Voice of Russia radio station on Wednesday, Viktor Bout said that he comes as a trophy to the US officials reluctant to search for true criminals.

Press awaiting news on Viktor Bout's sentence

Comments (25)

I fully agree with you 05.04.2012 20:54

RT did exactly the same thing to me, when I gave precise details about sionism and left a direct link to an information source and clearly quoted evidences about zionism. My comment was removed, it is exactly exactly as what you describe they did to you.

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TOOK ONLY 5 MINUTES FOR RT TO REMOVE THE BELOW COMMENT I POSTED: wrote in #10
Victor Bout Is a political prisoner of usa zionists who arrested him on hollywood charges to blackmail President Putin into releasing the zionist mafia oligarth Michail Khodorkovsky. This is a war against Putin sponsored by zionist oligarth Boris berezovsky who lives in exile in uk.You can post any comment on RT against zionist, just as long as it does not hit the truth too accurately on the head.RT is just anouther controlled opposition fake left wing channel of zionists. This is clear for all to see when you notice EVERY business and artist promoted on RT is a jew artist or business. Just check the arts and business section and use google if in doubt.!PS. Im retiring from exposing RT now, no need to expose the facist zionists deceptions anymore when ive concluded they do a great job of making endless enemies themselves.

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The Monk 05.04.2012 19:03

Re: Regarding Wikipedia- As you should know, Wikipedia is an open forum encyclopedia. If you don't like what they say...with proof you can change it by just a quick clik of your mouse. Of course, you need proof of what you say...not conspiracy theories...it must past muster!Proof will set you free!!!

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Eurasian (unregistered) 05.04.2012 18:42

Just imagine if the Russians did this trick instead what a loud outcry would´ve been all over the western media; the Russians do not respect “the Rule of Law” and the international laws. And they cry about the “Rule of Law” only when it suits them. Now nothing else left for Russia but for the time being to play it tit-for-tat, as Medvedev at the meeting of the BRICS made it clear they will demand reforms in the UN. Thus this play of the ´divine´ judges of the world has gone way overboard; ICC, ICTY, the Brits, the Americans, while they are always “immune” from persecutions – just as the NATO´s play, but sue those of “war crimes” and “crimes against the humanity” who they illegally attacked and ruined their countries. Indeed how humane they are having killed over 200 million only after the WWII. There goes their false cry for “the Rule of Law.”

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