On Wednesday, although we usually speak on Thursdays, Victor Bout, the “most dangerous Russian in America,” called. For many years, Victor first met his family - Alla and Lisa were allowed to visit him several times a week. Meeting with my family is a delicate matter, and once again I do not ask for details. But I can imagine how hard it is for both Victor himself and Alla with Lisa. Victor is a courageous man - he has been carrying the cross of the living trophy of American imperialism for a decade.
To those who have forgotten, I recall that the US intelligence agencies fabricated a case against Victor and sentenced him to 25 years in prison for allegedly trying to sell weapons to Colombian rebels. On August 11, 2009, a Thai court refused to extradite the United States, substantiating its decision with a lack of evidence of guilt provided to the court. But when did a third-country court decision interfere with the United States? A bit of magical passes - and a Russian citizen is already flying in a small jet plane, accompanied by American intelligence services, to the Stuart military base of the US National Guard near New York. Kidnapping? Abduction
Of course, one does not have to wait for Washington to suddenly go wild and promise not to kidnap people anymore. It is naive to think that one morning the American president will say: “Enough export of democracy” - and miraculously abandon the military plans developed for dozens of countries. But, as Maria Butina’s case showed, it is possible and necessary to take all measures - public and non-public - to help our citizens. Just in the case of Mary, we saw the coordinated work of the Foreign Ministry, the State Duma committee on international affairs and the media.
A meeting on assisting compatriots abroad was held within the walls of the State Duma, which was attended by Human Rights Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova, Maria Butina released from an American prison and a journalist, member of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, Executive Director of MIA " Russia today ”Kirill Vyshinsky.
“Unfortunately, judicial bias, far-fetched and fabricated charges against Russian citizens abroad have become regular. The USA stands apart here, using the so-called extraterritorial justice, they have launched a real hunt for Russians around the world, ”said Leonid Slutsky, head of the committee on international affairs.
He believes that in such a situation, it is necessary to significantly strengthen the mechanisms for protecting Russian citizens and compatriots abroad, consolidating the efforts of the state, civil society, the parliamentary corps and the lawyer community.
Butina and Vyshinsky have already expressed their readiness to get involved in the work. This, of course, cannot but rejoice - both have extensive experience in opposing the political violence of foreign states; each of them was faced with monstrous arbitrariness; everyone was threatened with astronomical dates. I am sure that both Maria and Cyril are sufficiently motivated for such work.
Monstrous figures were announced at the meeting today: last year more than 600 cases of unjustified arrests, deportations, failure to provide timely medical care, extradition of Russians in various Western countries against the background of general Russophobic hysteria became known. Just think about it - 600 Russian citizens abroad were subjected to political persecution. These large-scale repressions, which it is not customary to talk about, not only get away with their organizers, but are also supported by the tabloid yellow press and false statements by politicians.
For example, Maria Butina said that the American authorities needed to keep her after arrest at all costs and not allow her to be released on bail: “Following all the Hollywood stereotypes, the yellow tabloid press, I was called some kind of Kremlin seducer, which for me is like for a woman is deeply insulting, ”the girl said.
By the way, over the years, Americans have succeeded in demonizing Victor Bout by issuing tabloid books and publications. Shortly before his abduction to the United States in Hollywood, the film “The Baron of Arms” was presented, in which Booth, played by the charming Nicholas Cage, was portrayed as a monster, an unprincipled death trader. This film explained to housewives that Booth did not deserve leniency. Well, who will protect the man whose Mephistopheles activity condemned many dozens of people from conditional Rwanda to death? And then Hollywood came to the rescue with its best actors.
In general, it’s clear that the whole industry works to cover all international crimes of the USA and the collective West, and if you didn’t please our strategic partners, then you can be sure that they will prove to hell that you are a monster, weapons baron or a Kremlin seducer . No chances, no options, no honest justice. In this situation, one can only rely on the native state - that is why the meeting was held today. The creation of a comprehensive assistance mechanism, which Slutsky spoke about, will be almost the only hope for our inmates. First of all, my brave friend - Victor Bout.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.