Khodorkovsky Could Win Release in Exchange for Victor Bout
Argumenty Nedeli have learned in an interview Andrei, a senior Russian secret services officer, that Russia has been negotiating terms with the U.S. for over seven months for the extradition of Victor Bout, which could result in the release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
The lawyers of Victor Bout said, “When all formalities here in the United States are finally observed, Russia will be able to ask for Bout’s extradition so that he will serve the time in Russia. I cannot presume to know what the Americans will decide of course, but the possibility that he will be escorted to Russia indeed does exist.”
Valery Shnyakin, Federation Council’s Committee for International Affairs Assistant Chairman, said that Russia is most likely to win Bout’s extradition by exchanging prisoners. He said, “It will be a short and sure way. Russia ought to accept the American terms and that will be that.”
Andrei said, “The catch is, we have no American spies in Russian prisons,” adding “I do not think that Barack Obama will follow in Putin’s steps and pardon Bout. The Americans are too pragmatic for it. They want Mikhail Khodorkovsky released from jail in return… Should Putin overcome his dislike of Khodorkovsky and pardon him after his inauguration, it will make things so much easier and bring Bout’s return to Russia closer.”
