Lawyers demand better conditions, vegetarian menu for Bout

NEW YORK, March 4 (Itar-Tass) -- Lawyers of Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who is kept in a New York prison and described by US media as the "Merchant of Death" for alleged illegal arms trade requested judiciary authorities to improve custody conditions for their client and arrange a vegetarian menu for him.
Bout's wife Alla told Tass on Thursday after preliminary hearings in Manhattan federal court it was still unclear whether the conditions will be improved. "Let's wait how the prosecution reacts," she said.
Bout's lawyer Albert Dayan said meeting conditions with his client had been improved adding he requested the warden to arrange a proper menu for vegetarian Bout.
Bout complained about custody conditions in a letter to the Russian consulate in New York. Vice Consul Alexander Otchainov told Itar-Tas the businessman explained he was a vegetarian and complained of improper nutrition.
"Bout complains about a lack of fresh vegetables and fruit. He cannot get dietary supplements, and any of his recourse to doctors is ignored, Otchainov said.
Bout asked prison authorities a permission to buy fruits, vegetables and juices with his own money in compliance with all the necessary security measures, but he has not received any response to these requests as well.
The vice consul quoted Bout as saying "such treatment is contrary to international minimum prison standards and it may soon result in a sharp deterioration of my health."
However his new lawyer said "everything was okay" for the time being. "My client feels normally," Dayan said.
The 44-year old Russian businessman also said that since his
extradition to the United States from Thailand last November he had been "held, literally, in a punishment cell" - the ward of the so-called "special block" where vicious criminals posing a serious threat to society are usually kept.
"I have no access to email, phone, I have no possibility to
communicate with my lawyers in a special room - with no nets, partitions and lattices," Bout said adding he is also denied fresh air. "All this, in my opinion, is a form of pressure on me - both physical and psychological," he said.
The next court hearings will be delayed by 45 days to give the new
team of lawyers - Dayan and Ken Kaplan - enough time to get acquainted
with the case.
Bout faces four charges: "conspiracy to kill US nationals,"
"conspiracy to kill officers in government service," "conspiracy to
purchase and sell anti-aircraft missiles", and "criminal conspiracy to
supply weapons to terrorist groups."
The Russian has pleaded not guilty of all the charges. If convicted, Bout may be sentenced from 25 years to life.