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Russia hopes for unbiased hearing of Viktor Bout lawyers’ appeal in US

The U.S. authorities’ decision to maroon him for serving his term at a high security jail for terrorists and heinous criminals in Colorado causes concern

MOSCOW, May 18 (Itar-Tass) — Russia hopes for an earnest and unbiased hearing of the appeal filed by lawyers representing the Russian businessman Viktor Bout, whom a court in the U.S. has sentenced to 25 years in jail on charges with the activities that might jeopardize U.S. citizens’ security.

“We hope for an earnest and unbiased consideration of the appeal filed by Viktor Bout’s lawyers regarding the terms of his conviction,” the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Friday.

“We’re ready for a substantial discussion of the issue that might help tap an earliest possible solution to the problem and help return our fellow-countryman home, including the activation of international legal mechanisms,” he said.

“Russia has more than once raised the problem of Viktor Bout’s plight at various levels and has pointed out the inconsistency of evidence against him and the unacceptable use of psychological of physical pressure on him,” Lukashevich said. “The U.S. authorities’ decision to maroon him for serving his term at a high security jail for terrorists and heinous criminals in Colorado causes especial concern.”

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