Thailand on Monday asked the United States and Russia to respect its justice system, its integrity and procedures involving the Thai Court's ruling to extradite Viktor Bout, known as the Merchant of Dealth.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said that both countries should not have used Thailand as a venue of debates.
"The US and Russia should not have put pressure on Thailand concerning Bout's extradition. We are not taking any side on the matter. We are following our justice system and procedure. They, also democratic countries, should respect our system as they do to theirs," the minister said.
The minister was responding to reports that the US and Russia have put pressure on Thailand after an Appeal Court ruled in favour of the US to extradite Bout wanted in the US on arm smuggling charges.
Russian government had criticized Thai government of taking side with the US. However the extradition has not yet happened as a Thai court will have to consider the US' latest request, reportedly on September 4, to withdrawn other charges of fraud and money laundering against Bout.
The US has dispatched an airplane which is accompanied by US marshal to pick up Bout. However the country has to wait pending the court's decision on the charge withdrawal.
Kasit said that the dispatching of the US airplane and marshal is not appropriate in Thailand's views as the country should have waited until the procedure concerning the matter officially finished.
"About dispatching the aircraft to pick up Bout, the US should have shown more respect to our justice system. No matter the US intended or not, it should not have did that," he said.