A Thai appeals court ruled today to extradite suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout to the United States to face terrorism charges following two years of diplomatic pressure from Washington.
Nicknamed "Merchant of Death" and the inspiration for Hollywood movie Lord of War starring Nicholas Cage, the 43-year-old Bout faces US accusations of trafficking arms since the 1990s to dictators and conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East.
He has been held in a Thai maximum-security prison since his arrest in March 2008 during a joint US-Thai sting operation in which agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc.
The court overturned a 2009 lower court decision that did not recognise the Farc as terrorists. The appeals court, however, said the case was criminal, not political, so Bout should be extradited and handed to US authorities within three months.
Bout's wife, Alla, accused the Thai authorities of succumbing to pressure from key ally the United States. "This is a result of constant pressure from the US government," she said, moments after hugging her shackled husband as guards whisked him away.
"This is the most unfair decision because the initial court already said it's a political case," she added before breaking down in tears.
US prosecutors say his clients included former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and his deals helped fuel wars in Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
Bout denied the charges, saying he ran a legitimate air cargo business and was in Bangkok to discuss selling planes to Thais when he was arrested. His lawyer, Lak Nittiwattanawichan, said he would petition the Thai government to block extradition.
"The defence believes Bout will not be safe in the US and he will not receive a fair trial," Mr Lak told reporters.
The Obama administration summoned the Thai ambassador in Washington this week to express concern Bout could be freed, US state department spokesman PJ Crowley said. That followed a letter sent to the Thai government in April by US lawmakers who warned the case could harm bilateral relations.
Moscow had also lobbied Thailand, seeking Bout's release and fuelling speculation the former Soviet air force officer was receiving protection from Russian authorities who had made no apparent attempt over the years to interfere in his operations.
The appeals court judge said Thailand had similar laws to the United States under which Bout could be charged, and therefore he must be extradited according to a treaty between the countries.
According to the US indictment, Bout told undercover agents in Bangkok he could supply them with 700 to 800 surface-to-air missiles, 5,000 AK-47 assault rifles, millions of rounds of ammunition, C-4 explosives, landmines and unmanned aerial drones.
Reuters