Russia Slams U.S. Over Sentence for Arms Dealer Viktor Bout
Russia criticized the United States on Friday for handing down a 25-year sentence to Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, saying the verdict against him was “baseless and biased.”
Bout, who denies wrongdoing, was sentenced Thursday to 25 years behind bars by a federal judge in New York.
Bout, who was dubbed “the merchant of death” by his accusers, was convicted last year on four counts of conspiracy to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles and provide material support to a terrorist organization.
Russia’s foreign ministry accused the United States of acting illegally when its agents arrested Bout in Thailand and of pursuing a political agenda after he was extradited to the United States to face trial.