 |
|
What has changed since April 2005
Chronicle
|
Date |
Description |
Notes |
|
June 1995 |
Richard started the free zone project in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates where he met Victor Bout for the first time |
Throughout these years there were not any sanctions nor were there any known allegations against Victor Bout |
|
July 1996 |
Richard returned to the United States from UAE, and the contact with Victor Bout was ended |
|
|
April 1998 |
Victor contacted Richard and asked him to do assessment for possible initial public offering. Richard accepted and flew to South Africa for 10 days to do the assessment, then retuned back to the US, thus ending this second contact with Victor |
|
|
June 2000 |
Victor contacted Richard and asked him for advice regarding Victor’s failing business, Richard recommended that Victor and his family migrate to the US and start an industrial project, and advised Victor to apply for a visa. The US refused to grant a visa to Victor, and the proposed project ended |
|
|
December 2000 |
The UN published a report that alleges Victor’s involvement in arms dealing |
Allegation against Victor surfaced |
|
July 2004 |
The United States government placed Victor Bout under sanctions prohibiting doing business with him. There were not any services rendered by Richard to Victor on, or after this date. |
Dealing with Victor is now prohibited |
|
April 2005 |
The US government placed Richard under sanctions alleging that he was working for and associated with Victor Bout; US seized all of his records and documents. |
? |
|
April 2005 |
Richard requested records that were seized to be released to prove that the government action was wrong. The government refused to release any documents or discuss the matter any further. Richard publically challenged the Bush administration and threatened to sue. |
The international pressure |
|
May 2005 |
Richard requested a permit to travel, and received a permission from the government to go to Russia. |
|
|
July 2005 |
The Bush administration communicated with the governments of Russia and Kazakhstan requesting their assistance in pressuring Richard and restricting his movement and activities. Both governments refused for the lack of legal basis. |
|
|
September 2005 |
The US government offered Richard an immunity and full repatriation if he agreed to do certain actions for the Bush administration. Richard refused the offer on the ground that the acts he was asked to perform were immoral, dishonest, and illegal under the US and the international laws. Richard threatened to bring the matter public if he was not relieved. |
The immunity offer |
|
November 2005 |
Richard moved from Russia to Syria to live with his family, and started a business to create an income. |
! |
|
December 2005 |
The Bush administration pressured the United Nations Security Council to issue a resolution to freeze Richard’s assets and ban him from travel worldwide. The UN Security Council issued a resolution against Richard Chichakli. |
Using the United Nations |
|
December 2005 |
The Bush administration reached an arrangement with the Syrian government and the Syrian intelligence apparatus to pressure Richard and restrict his acts and movement. The Intelligence apparatus in Syria started harassing Richard. |
The deal between Bush and Syria |
| February 2006 | The United States government removed the name of Richard Chichakli off the list of the persons sanctioned within the US, and listed him instead under persons sanctioned by Syria. | |
|
April 2006 |
Richard was picked up by the Syrian intelligence and taken for interrogation over an allegation that he was an American spy; he was ordered under restricted movement within the town. |
|
|
June 2006 |
Richard was picked up again by Syrian intelligence and was told that the business permit he was given is revoked, and he is placed under house arrest. |
|
|
July 2006 |
While trying to leave to Russia, Richard was arrested in Damascus airport by the Political Intelligence apparatus in Syria and detained in “Alfayhaá detention.” He was later moved among several other intelligence detentions and was subjected to systematic torture. The US embassy in Damascus refused to recognize his American citizenship, render help, or to intervene. |
|
|
August 2006 |
Richard's attorney filed a law suit against the Bush administration in the Federal court in the US. |
|
|
December 2006 |
Fearing defeat and exposure the Bush administration reverted to the “Secret Evidence” tactic in order to cause the dismissal of the law suit filed by Richard’s attorney. |
|
|
May 2007 |
Richard escapes from Syria and returns to Russia |
|
|
June 2007 |
The Federal Court dismisses Richard's law suit with prejudice without trial, and without ever seeing or discussing the case with Richard’s attorney. |
Court decision |
| March 2008 | Victor Bout was arrested in Thailand |
! |
| Nov 2008 |
The Bush administration presents Richard Chichakli with another immunity offer should he agree to help the outgoing administration in a couple of matters. On the advise of his attorney Richard refused because what he was asked to perform is illegal |
