MOSCOW. Feb 1 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry continues using all possible diplomatic methods to bring Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who was convicted in the U.S., back to Russia.
"We are in constant contact with Bout and his lawyers, providing him with necessary assistance in defending his rights and ensuring normal living conditions in prison," the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department told reporters on Friday.
"Our task is to bring him back to Russia using bilateral and international legal mechanisms, including the 1983 European Convention on the transfer of sentenced persons, which Russia and the U.S. signed," the Russia Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry also recalled that Bout intends to contest his sentence, reiterating that it is politically biased and ungrounded.
"My lawyers have drawn up an appeal to the New York court and will seek a reversal of the verdict, citing numerous violations during the arrest and subsequent extradition of Viktor Bout from Thailand and the general instability of the prosecutors' accusations," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry also said it is working with the U.S. authorities, which earlier declined to extradite Bout to Russia, saying he has not refused to continue the appeals procedure.