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Moscow resentful at New York court’s refusal to revise businessman Viktor Bout’s case

Russian Foreign Ministry considers this ruling as another politicized step of the US judicial system, which is obviously implementing a political contract, a spokesperson says

MOSCOW, October 27. /TASS/. Moscow is resentful at the refusal of a New York court’s refusal to revise the criminal case against Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in a US high security jail on charges of arranging illegal arms sales, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.

"We consider this ruling as another politicized step of the US judicial system, which is obviously implementing a political contract," she said.

"We demand the United States authorities put an end to arbitrariness in respect of the Russian citizen," she stressed. "We will continue to take efforst using all available legal and political mechanisms to have Bout’s rights observed and have him return home."

High-security ward term for Viktor Bout has been extended for another six months in response to a motion to review his case, Zakharova added.

"In response to the petition to reconsider his case, the term of his stay in a high security prison ward, where he has been kept for more than three years with no reason for that, has been extended for six months more," she said. "We demand the United State authorities ultimately put an end to arbitrariness in respect of the Russia citizen."