Russia will continue to defend alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout, extradited from Thailand to the United States on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Bout was extradited to the U.S. to face charges that he conspired to sell weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), among other illegal arms deals. Bout denies all the charges.
He could face life behind bars if convicted.
Bout's Thai lawyer, Lak Nitivat, said the Thai authorities had failed to notify him, Bout's wife and the Russian embassy about the "illegal" extradition.
"Undoubtedly, the illegal extradition of Bout is a result of the unprecedented political pressure on the Thai government and the judicial authorities by the United States," a ministry statement said.
Bout's handover questions the independence of the entire Thai judicial system, the statement went on, adding that there was no "rational explanation or justification" for the decision.
Former Russian army officer Bout was arrested in Thailand in March 2008 during a sting operation led by U.S. agents.
Dubbed the "Merchant of Death" by world media, Bout was the inspiration behind the 2005 Hollywood film "The Lord of War," starring Nicholas Cage.
MOSCOW, November 16 (RIA Novosti)
