Extradition Record
Requesting: United StatesRequested: Thailand

Viktor Bout: extradition case and outcome

Viktor Bout was arrested in Thailand in March 2008 on a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court. A Thai appeals court reversed a lower court decision and ordered his extradition in August 2010, and he was extradited in November 2010. He was convicted in 2011, sentenced to 25 years in 2012, and released to Russia on 8 December 2022 in an exchange for the US basketball player Brittney Griner.

Extradited Extradited from Thailand to the United States in November 2010.1

Charges as alleged. US prosecutors in the Southern District of New York charged him with conspiring to kill US nationals, conspiring to kill US officers and employees, conspiring to acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors said he understood the weapons would be used to kill Americans in Colombia.1

Charges are allegations unless a court has convicted. Each record states what each court or minister decided and the person's public response.

Decisions

  1. Thai authoritiesArrested in Thailand on the basis of a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court.1
  2. Thai Appeals CourtReversed a lower court decision and ordered him extradited to the United States.2
  3. Thai governmentExtradited to the Southern District of New York.1
  4. Federal jury, US District Court for the Southern District of New YorkConvicted on all four counts after a three week trial before Judge Shira A. Scheindlin.1
  5. US District Judge Shira A. ScheindlinSentenced him to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and forfeiture of 15 million dollars.1
  6. Governments of the United States and Russia, with UAE and Saudi mediationReleased by the United States in conjunction with Russia's release of Brittney Griner, who was received in Abu Dhabi.3

What happened next

Convicted on 2 November 2011 on all four counts and sentenced on 5 April 2012 to 25 years. Released to Russia on 8 December 2022 in an exchange for Brittney Griner mediated by the UAE and Saudi Arabia.1,3

Response

After the August 2010 appeals ruling he told RIA Novosti "We will go to court in America and we will win", according to the Washington Post. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the ruling a political decision.2

Legal points

Sources

  1. US Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, International Arms Dealer Viktor Bout Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 25 Years in Prison for Terrorism Crimes (5 April 2012)
  2. The Washington Post, Thai court orders extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout (21 August 2010)
  3. Khaleej Times, UAE confirms joint role with Saudi in securing release of US basketball star Griner from Russia (8 December 2022)