NEW-YORK, February 17 - RAPSI. The Attorney Office of the Southern District of New York said the court is not authorized to change confinement conditions for Russian Viktor Bout, who was arrested and extradited to the United States on arms trafficking charges.

The Supreme Court has reiterated that the court is not empowered to decide on the crucial issues regarding confinement conditions and penal reform, according to the document prepared at the request of Judge Shira Scheindlin, which was made available to RIA Novosti.

The prosecution insists that Bout poses a real threat to the global security as he has access to vast financial resource, arms and deals with international criminal groups.

The prosecution also maintains that it is up to the prison management to decide on the confinement conditions for prisoners based on various factors.

The document reads that considering Bout's background and his personal qualities, the prison management decided that Bout is capable of influencing other prisoners which may undermine the prison security."

Besides, Bout's isolation is also good for his own safety, says the document, signed by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
Bout has been kept in solitary confinement for 14 months.

Judge Shira Scheindlin expressed her doubts at the Friday hearing if Bout has to be in solitary confinement as a violent criminal.

The hearing was conducted in response to Bout's motion to be allowed into the general population at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and then extradited to the United States. The jury returned guilty verdicts on all four accounts of a conspiracy to kill Americans and U.S. officials, the illegal acquisition and export of surface-to-air missiles, and the support of terrorism by cooperating with the Colombian FARC guerrilla organization. He faces from 25 years to life in prison.

Bout has pleaded not guilty.