The wife of Russian businessman and alleged arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who faces extradition from Thailand to the United States, has called on Moscow to protect her husband from Washington's persecution.
Alla Bout said in a letter addressed to the Russian authorities that the behavior of the United States toward her husband violated international legal norms.
She also said that such U.S. activities must be stopped, or the superpower would continue to act illegally, disregard Russian sovereignty and prosecute any Russian citizen it accuses of crimes committed in third countries.
Alla Bout said her husband had never been to the United States, and did not have any bank accounts or businesses in the country.
"I am seriously worried about my husband's health," she said, adding that the U.S. authorities were doing everything they could to break her husband down both emotionally and physically, and "to throw dirt to Russia through this much publicized case."
Former Russian army officer Bout, 43, remains in custody in a Thai jail after the Bangkok Criminal Court refused in August to extradite him to the United States, where he is facing four terrorism-related charges and a possible life sentence. He has repeatedly denied the accusations.
U.S. prosecutors said they would again attempt to secure Bout's extradition from Thailand in light of the new charges.
The Southern District of the New York Court found Bout, nicknamed the "Merchant of Death," and his alleged associate Richard Chichakli guilty on Wednesday of violating the 1995 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for concealing millions in arms sales profits.
The new indictment charges Bout with supplying two Boeing planes to Liberia's former president Charles Taylor in 2004, bypassing UN sanctions and IEEPA. As much as $1.7 million had been transferred for the delivery which was finally blocked by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The U.S. court also accused Bout and Chichakli of conspiracy, money laundering and wire fraud.
BANGKOK, February 25 (RIA Novosti)
