Convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has accused the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) of hypocrisy, a day before he is due to be sentenced.
“When you need to deport someone go to the Defense Intelligence Agency, which has now become notorious for its double standards,” he said in an interview with Voice of Russia Radio.
“They are past masters at getting a person into trouble.”
He said it was wrong to jail a person just for what he has said, even if he has done no wrong while many arms dealers in the United States go unpunished.
“That is hypocrisy,” Bout said.
The U.S. Justice Department has called for a 30-year prison sentence for Bout. Sentencing is due on Thursday. Earlier this week the prosecution called for a thirty year sentence to be imposed.
On November 2 last year, the jury of the Federal District Court of New York found Bout guilty of conspiring to kill U.S. officials and citizens, of acquiring and intending to use Russian-made Igla anti-aircraft missiles and providing support to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), considered a terrorist group by the United States.
Bout has denied all the charges against him.