Thailand ensures fairness for the Merchant of Death

Bout, who has been dubbed "The Merchant of Death," pleaded to Moscow in a televised statement from a Thai prison to help secure his release.

Foreign Ministry's spokesman Tharit Charungvat said in a statement that the Thai authorities have treated him with respect and have acted to ensure his physical health and safety while in custody.

He has been permitted to communicate with his counsel, whenever he was questioned by the authorities.

Thailand is party to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 and thus has the obligation to accord full facilities for the exercise of consular functions relating to nationals of the sending state, including consular access stated therein, Tharit said.

Bout said via the Russian media that he was held under guard under fabricated accusation.

The Russian arm dealer would remain in detention in Thailand pending extradition hearings, which he estimated would take 60 days, police said.

 The Nation