The US Has Given Itself the Right To Arrest Anyone, Anywhere — While It Still Can*

*Editor’s note: On March 4, Russia enacted a law that criminalizes public opposition to, or independent news reporting about, the war in Ukraine. The law makes it a crime to call the war a “war” rather than a “special military operation” on social media or in a news article or broadcast. The law is understood to penalize any language that “discredits” Russia’s use of its military in Ukraine, calls for sanctions or protests Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It punishes anyone found to spread “false information” about the invasion with up to 15 years in prison.

Journalist Aleksandr Gasiuk on the return of Viktor Bout to Russia.

The happy conclusion of the story of the arrest and prolonged detention of Russian citizen Viktor Bout by the Americans is both significant and insightful. It is significant because the Russian authorities practically proved their motto of never abandoning their citizens. They accomplished the release of Bout, who was first purposefully demonized by Western media and then arrested due to a provocation by the U.S. After that, he was extradited to America and sentenced to 25 years in prison on trumped-up charges. Therefore, Russia’s efforts produced concrete results.

The story is also insightful because the process of securing Bout’s release dragged on for almost 15 years. When the Russian businessman was detained at the request of the U.S. in Thailand in March 2008, he was 41 years old. Soon Bout will be 56. Therefore, Bout spent 15 years in Thai and American prisons, enduring the tragedy of forced separation from his family and loved ones. Furthermore, Bout faced psychological pressure from U.S. intelligence, blatant blackmail and attempts to make him betray his country in exchange for a reduced prison term.

Bout came out of that story as more than a decent man. The former Soviet Army officer showed composure and stuck to his principles in a difficult situation. Moreover, he did not plead guilty or make a deal with the Americans. This is important, as an overwhelming majority of Russian citizens detained by Americans in other countries had to buckle under the pressure of the U.S. judicial system, which was obviously biased against them. As a result, they vilified themselves to reduce their sentence and gain the right to an early release. Bout, however, flatly refused to entertain such ideas. Evidently, a clear conscience was more important to him.

Another lesson of this story is that the U.S. has expanded its legislation to cover the entire world and given itself the right to arrest anyone, anywhere. Therefore, any negotiations with the U.S. must be pursued from a position of strength because, unfortunately, America does not understand any other way. Moscow has been seeking Bout’s release for years. However, the Americans only began to budge and cooperate when a more high-profile U.S. citizen, Brittney Griner, found herself in a Russian prison. Here again, the U.S. wanted to trick Russia into an unequal swap, proposing to exchange Bout for Griner — a basketball player convicted of drug smuggling — and other individuals. It didn’t work out.

And there is no doubt that the U.S. will continue with its provocations, arresting Russian citizens through intermediaries in other countries and subsequently asking for their extradition to America — because it can do so. For now. I do not rule out that we will have new prominent cases similar to the ones of Bout, Konstantin Yaroshenko and Roman Seleznyov in the future. This mayhem will continue until Russia begins to aggressively defend every one of its citizens who have become hostages of the worsening geopolitical situation and deteriorating U.S.-Russia relations. Russia must protect them regardless of their social status and media exposure. To that end, Russia must firmly apply the entire range of political and diplomatic means to exert influence on its partners. Furthermore, Moscow must not hesitate to directly point out the possible negative consequences for its relations with countries that arrest Russian citizens at the request of the U.S. And, if need be, Russia must back up these words with concrete actions.

Aleksandr Gasiuk is the author of “Viktor Bout. The True Story of the ‘Baron of Arms’.”