Bout was arrested at a luxury hotel in Bangkok in March 2008 as part of a sting operation spearheaded by U.S. undercover agents posing as Colombian rebels. He was imprisoned in Thailand until today, when the Thai government agreed to extradite him to America -- against objections from Moscow, which had lobbied for him to be allowed to go home. Today's move marks a break in the two-year tug of war between the U.S. and Russia over Bout's future.
AP
Thailand extradited accused Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout to the U.S. on Tuesday to face terrorism charges.
Bout's wife, Alla, who has frequently appeared at his court hearings in Thailand in tears, rushed this morning to the prison where her husband had been held, hoping to catch a last glimpse of him, the BBC reported. But she was too late. Later, she told Russia's NTV television network that the extradition was "a political decision" that "has no legal basis whatsoever," The Wall Street Journal reported.
With a reputation as one of the world's most infamous arms dealers, Bout is accused of selling weapons to rebel groups and corrupt governments alike, fueling civil wars in South America, the Middle East and Africa. His clients allegedly included Liberia's Charles Taylor, Libya's Moammar Gadhafi and armed groups on both sides of Angola's bloody civil war.
Bout claims he ran a legitimate cargo transport company that was willing to do business in dangerous places, and he denies selling weapons. For years, he evaded U.S. and United Nations sanctions aimed at restricting his financial dealings and personal travel.
The 2005 movie "Lord of War" is believed to have been based on the exploits of Bout, portrayed by actor Nicolas Cage.
In August, a Thai court ruled that Bout could legally be extradited to the U.S. to face charges. The country's Cabinet and prime minister approved the move today.
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The Russian Embassy in Bangkok immediately decried Bout's extradition as "illegal," London's Daily Telegraph reported. In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry called it "the result of unprecedented political pressure put on the government and judiciary of Thailand by the U.S." It also said the ministry would continue "to defend the legal rights of V.A. Bout as a citizen of the Russian Federation," the Journal reported. There's been speculation that Moscow's opposition to Bout's extradition goes beyond defending his rights as a Russian citizen. Analysts say Bout may have sophisticated knowledge of Russia's own intelligence operations, and that he may have even had tacit approval from Moscow for his activities. Moscow may fear that its intelligence network could be compromised if Bout is convicted and sentenced to a U.S. prison.