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Bout's lawyer not ask for extradition, but to seek acquittal

Meanwhile, the lawyer noted that there are some chances to win the case

MOSCOW, April 6 (Itar-Tass) —— The lawyer of Russian citizen Viktor Bout, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the United States, does not plan to seek his extradition to Russia and hopes for the review of the guilty verdict, Bout’s lawyer Viktor Burobin told Itar-Tass on Friday.

“We do not ask for his extradition (to serve the sentence in Russia),” he noted.

Burobin noted that the lawyers consider the verdict lawful and intends to appeal it in the court of appeal, and if this fails, in the US Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the lawyer noted that there are some chances to win the case. “25 years in prison is certainly a long term, but in this concrete case is minimal. The judge could have sentenced him to life in prison. But for the verdict of the jury, the acquittal verdict would have been passed,” Burobin believes.

The appeal of the verdict will take several years, as “this is a very long procedure,” he said. “But the most important thing is that Bout intends to defend himself further. He called me up and had an optimistic voice. So, we will fight further,” the lawyer concluded.

The Federal Court of the Southern District in New York sentenced Russian businessman Viktor Bout to 25 years in prison. He was found guilty of major weapon sale to Colombian militants, which the US considers as a terrorist group, in November 2011.