Several national Thai TV channels launched a coordinated media attack against Viktor Bout on Friday after a court ruled the Russian businessman should be extradited from Thailand to the United States on arms trafficking charges.
Evening news reports on channels 3, 5 and 7 referred to Bout as "a former KGB worker," "an internationally-known arms dealer," and "a dealer working with the Taliban and terrorists all over the world."
Earlier on Friday, the Thai Appeals Court ruled to extradite Bout to the United States on weapons smuggling and other charges. Bout is to be handed over to the U.S. side within three months.
Channel 5, which is owned by the Royal Thai Army, reported "the pleasant, satisfying news" that "the globally renowned arms dealer, Viktor Bout, arrested two years ago by the honorable Thai police officers together with their friends and colleagues from the United States, will be finally sent to the United States."
The 44-year-old former Russian army officer was arrested in Thailand in March 2008 under a request from the United States, which accuses him of illegally trading arms. He has repeatedly denied the accusations.
None of the news reports said Bout had not been found guilty of any crime or told viewers that the court ruling was solely on the merits of the extradition case and did not consider whether Bout was innocent or guilty of the charges filed in the United States.
THAI ENVOY CALLED ON CARPET IN MOSCOW
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called Friday's verdict illegal and politically motivated.
"We regret the, in my opinion, unlawful and politically motivated decision made today by the Thai Appeals Court," Lavrov said. "According to the information we have, the decision was made under pressure from an outside source."
The Foreign Ministry in Moscow summoned Thailand's ambassador to Russia, Chalermpol Thanchitt, to protest the decision to extradite Bout.
"The utmost discontent and concern were declared over the politically motivated verdict of the Thai Appeals Court, which contradicts the Thai Criminal Court's ruling made in August 2009 that denied the U.S. extradition request due to a lack of evidence," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
During the meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin, Chalermpol Thanchitt promised to inform the Thai government of Russia's position on this case, the ministry said.
Lavrov said Russia would seek to have Bout returned home.
"We were in contact with his lawyers and I assure you we will continue to do everything we can to repatriate Bout," Lavrov said.
U.S. SATISFIED WITH THAI COURT'S DECISION
U.S. Justice Department Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler said the United States was pleased with the verdict.
"We are extremely pleased that the Appeals Court in Thailand has granted the extradition of Viktor Bout to the United States on charges of conspiring to sell weapons to a terrorist organization for use in killing Americans. We have always felt that the facts of the case, the relevant Thai law and the terms of our bilateral extradition treaty clearly supported the extradition of Mr. Bout on these charges," he said in a statement on the department's website.
Grindler said the prosecution of Bout was of "utmost priority to the United States."
MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti)
