By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia has protested to Thailand over alleged violations in the rights of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, recently arrested in a police operation in Bangkok.
“On Friday, Supot Theerakaosal, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, and a representation was made to him over the violations of the rights of Russian citizen V. Bout, arrested in Thailand at the request of the US,” the ministry said without elaborating.
Bout, 41, was arrested in March in a joint police operation led by the US.
Washington is seeking Bout’s extradition on charges of illegal weapons deals with militant groups, including the Taliban and Al Qaeda, in Middle East and African countries.
Bout’s brother said Thursday the US officials had tried to take him to the US without the move being sanctioned by a court.
Thai authorities said Wednesday that they would not bring charges against Bout, but would keep him in custody pending a decision on a US extradition request.
Washington has not yet filed the request and has 60 days to do so. Bout could face 15 years behind bars if found guilty on the US charges.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday it would monitor the investigation by Thai police and look into the legitimacy of the accusations against Bout, adding that the suspected arms dealer did not face any charges in Russia so there were no grounds to extradite him to the country.
Western law enforcement agencies consider him to be “the most prominent foreign businessman” involved in trafficking arms to UN-embargoed destinations.
Reports say Bout set up a network of more than 50 cargo aircraft around the world to facilitate his arms shipments.
US authorities took measures against Bout in 2005, freezing his bank accounts and submitting a list of 30 companies linked to Bout to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee.