A South African pilot who testified against a former associate, jailed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in a federal prison.
Andrew Smulian, 71, was arrested in 2008 in Thailand along with Bout in an undercover sting operation by U.S. agents posing as Colombian guerrillas looking to buy weapons.
Bout was sentenced in April to 25 years in prison. He has maintained his innocence.
Upon his arrest, Smulian immediately began cooperating with U.S. authorities, Manhattan federal prosecutors said.
In sentencing Smulian, the judge said the only reason he was roped into the case was because U.S. authorities had used him to get to Bout.
Smulian, who has been incarcerated for 50 months, must serve less than a year in prison in order to complete the five-year sentence, his lawyer said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
