On 15 May, the US Prosecution sent a letter informing Judge Scheindlin that the US Bureau of Prisons was delaying Viktor Bout's transfer from the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York until a decision had been made as to Bout's final designated destination.

In an unexpected and controversial twist, US Attorney General Eric Holder told Russian media outlets that he would consider a Russian application for Bout's transfer back to Russia to serve his remaining sentence. Not to forget that during the October 2011 trial replay of Viktor Bout transcripts, Bout spoke of having friends in high places in Russia and how he was able to get around UN sanctions and assets freezes in order to conduct his organized crime activities.

In 2010, Holder called Bout "one of the world's most prolific arms traffickers." He has also labeled the Russian "a source of concern around the globe for decades."

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http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/6/merchant_of_death_viktor_bout_sentenced

 

April 5th, 2012

Reaction to Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout Sentenced to 25 years in prison

Anna Macdonald of Oxfam said:

“In the two decades in which Bout operated with almost complete impunity,
his dealings were responsible for the deaths and suffering of countless of
people across Latin America and Africa. Hopefully, this is the start and
not the end of a long battle to put unlawful arms dealers behind bars.

“Locked up and put away for 25 years. This is the least of what Mr. Bout
deserved for plotting to sell, amongst other things, one hundred
surface-to-air missiles, 20,000 machine guns, 20,000 grenades, 350 sniper
rifles, 10 million rounds of ammunition and last but not least, five tons
of C-4 explosives to a US-recognized terrorist group.

“The United States government which spearheaded this effort to put away Mr
Bout has the chance to make an even bigger impact by agreeing strong laws
governing the arms trade. This next step is right around the corner and
will take place this summer when all nations will sit down to negotiate a
global treaty to regulate arms trade. The Arms Trade Treaty is the chance
of a generation to do the right thing and deter merciless arms dealer like
Viktor Bout from selling arms and ammunition to human rights abusers.”

Kathi Lynn Austin, Executive Director at Conflict Awareness Project and
former UN arms expert says:

“After a fifteen year odyssey tracking Viktor Bout from one conflict zone
to another, I’ve long waited for the day when I would see some measure of
justice for his countless victims as well as vindication for the vigorous
fight against brutal profiteers of war and crimes against humanity. While
I’m gratified Viktor Bout is now out of harm’s way for, 25 years behind
bars will not do justice to the enormity of blood the godfather of the
illegal weapons trade has on his hands.

“The sentencing of Viktor Bout sets a global precedent in the battle to put
illegal arms traffickers out of business. The sentence demonstrates that
when there is political will, law is the most powerful weapon in the
accountability arsenal against gross human rights offenders. However, we
should not fool ourselves that there are not others out there in line to
fill his shoes. The only way to prevent future Viktor Bouts from
flourishing is a strong Arms Trade Treaty that once and for all regulates
the arms middlemen that currently are allowed to operate without
constraint.

"After years of inaction and even contracting Bout’s services, I applaud
the US for finally undertaking the effort to put a stop to his lethal
delivery system of terrorism and war. The US government cannot stop there.
With some of the toughest laws against arms brokers in the world, the US
must lead other nations this July during Arms Trade Treaty negotiations to
close the legal loopholes that allow arms dealers to ply their lethal trade
with impunity.”

Jeff Abramson, Director of the Control Arms secretariat said:

“The sentencing of an arms dealer, even one as notorious as Viktor Bout,
does not undo suffering already caused or bring anyone back to life.

“What Bout’s sentencing does, however, is prove that it is possible to
fight the irresponsible arms trade. It also shows that the world must have
a better system for doing so. The fact that the United States needed to
mount a complex sting operation proves the need for global regulations to
limit the actions of dealers like Bout.

“Luckily, states are on target to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) this
July that would make stopping the next Viktor Bout much easier. A robust
ATT will lead all countries to adopting arms brokering and arms trade laws,
thereby closing the legal loopholes that continue to let the black market
thrive. Until such a treaty is agreed and functioning, the global arms
trade essentially remains out of control.”

Contact: Louis Belanger – Media Officer on +1 917 224 0834 email -
louis.belanger@oxfaminternational.org – twitter

Louis Belanger
Humanitarian Media Officer
Oxfam
cell +1 917 224 0834
skype louisoxfam
twitter @louis_press
Now on GMT -5

Visit the web site at http://www.oxfam.org

Visit the web site at http://www.oxfam.org

An order for the criminal forfeiture of Bout's assets foreign and domestic in the amount of $20,000,000. The amount is to be paid into the US Assets Forfeiture Fund.

In a US Government Memo submitted ahead of Viktor Bout's sentencing on 5 April, a life sentence is recommended. The Government argues that the minimum mandatory of 25 years is insufficient for a number of reasons: First, the conduct of the offense in qualitative terms - Bout was offering a breathtaking arsenal. Second, Bout's obstruction of justice in his false testimony in Thailand. Third, the need to promote general deterrence in instances where a non-state actor is willing "to function as a bridge between arms supplies and organizations seeking to inflict mass violence."

The defense lawyer for convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout submits a letter to US Judge Scheindlin recommending the court decline to sentence him because of a wrongful prosecution. The letter contains an admission that Viktor Bout worked in Iraq for US Air Force Command and private security firms once linked to VP Dick Cheney, earning roughly $6million, at a time when he was on a UN and US Department of Treasure prohibitions list. The letter also roughly spells out the defense position presented during the trial.

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