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Russian Diplomat Accuses U.S. Of Pressuring Bout During Extradition

November 18, 2010

A top Russian diplomat has accused the United States of trying to pressure suspected arms dealer Viktor Bout into confessing to crimes he had not committed during his extradition from Thailand.

Russia's consul general in New York, Andrei Yushmanov, made the accusations on November 17, after making the first visit by a Russian diplomat to Bout in New York, where he is now in detention.

Bout, a former Soviet air force officer, was flown to the United States from Thailand on November 16 to face terrorism and arms trafficking charges.

The United States says that since the early 1990s, Bout was supplying arms to dictators and conflict zones in Africa, South America, and the Middle East.

Russia has said his extradition from Thailand was unlawful.

On November 17, Bout pleaded not guilty before a U.S. judge and was ordered to be held under arrest without bail.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_Diplomat_Accuses_US_Of_Pressuring_Bout_During_Extradition/2223355.html

Copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.