Russia demands an immediate meeting of consulate officials with Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who was extradited on Tuesday to the United States by Thai officials, the Foreign Ministry said.
Bout, 43, was extradited to the United States to face charges that he conspired to sell weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), among other illegal arms deals. He is facing life in prison if convicted.
"This extradition is the result of enormous political pressure exerted on Thai authorities by Washington," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. "We are demanding immediate access to Bout by consular officials."
The ministry earlier stated that Bout's handover questions the independence of the entire Thai judicial system as there was no "rational explanation or justification" for the extradition ruling.
Bout, a former Russian army officer, was arrested in Thailand in March 2008 during a sting operation led by U.S. agents.
His extradition to the United States was ordered by the Thai appeals court on August 20, but was not carried out because the United States brought a second set of charges against him in February.
These charges were dropped in early October, bringing the so-called Merchant of Death one step closer to extradition. His remand period was due to expire on Friday.
The accused arms dealer was put on a charter flight sent on Tuesday from Washington shortly after the Thai government issued final approval for his extradition.
The plane is expected to arrive in one of New York's airports at about 9:00 p.m. local time (02:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
Russia's Consulate General in New York told RIA Novosti that Bout would receive full consular support upon his arrival on American soil.
MOSCOW, November 16 (RIA Novosti)
