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Bout says US lawyers suggested he testify against Russian authorities

Bout was apprehended in Bangkok in 2008 on the basis of an arrest warrant at the US request, charged with conspiracy to deliver weapons to a group, regarded as a terrorist organization by Washington

MOSCOW, December 27. /TASS/. The lawyers provided by the US court suggested that Russian businessman Viktor Bout, serving out a 25-year sentence in the United States, testify against the Russian authorities in return for freedom and a green card, as Bout himself said during a conference call on Thursday.

"Intelligence agencies did not force me [to testify], but the lawyers provided by the court many times made such proposals," he said. "They really liked to talk about it my family, my wife in particular, proposing various options, saying that I will have protection here and will also get a green card," Bout added.

"They meant I should tell the US authorities about the Kremlin’s corruption," the Russian went on to say. "I said: what do I have to do with it and how can I speak about something that does not exist?" he noted.

Bout case

Viktor Bout was apprehended in the Thai capital of Bangkok in 2008 on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by a local court at the request of the United States. He was charged with conspiracy to deliver weapons to a group calling itself the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), regarded as a terrorist organization by Washington. In 2010, Bout was extradited to the United States. In April 2012, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison and a fine of $15 mln.

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