Thailand's extradition of suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the United States on Tuesday will not damage Russian-Thai relations, the secretary-general of the Thai Security Council said on Tuesday.
"This decision will not create a problem with Russia because our foreign ministry has already talked with Russia," the Bangkok Post cited Thawil Pliensri as saying. "It's our decision, no matter whether Russia agrees or not."
Former Russian army officer Bout was arrested in Thailand in March 2008 during a sting operation led by U.S. agents. The United States accuses Bout of conspiring with others to sell millions of dollars' worth of weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), among other illegal arms deals. Bout denies all the charges.
Bout was reported to have boarded a plane for the United States earlier on Tuesday after Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva gave the green light for the extradition. The suspected arms dealer faces trial and a possible life sentence in the United States.
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.
Russia has not yet commented on the issue.
Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death" by world media, was the inspiration behind the 2005 Hollywood film "The Lord of War," starring Nicholas Cage.
BANGKOK, November 16 (RIA Novosti)
