MOSCOW, September 21 - RAPSI. Moscow will be seeking the extradition of Russian citizens Viktor Bout and Konstantin Yaroshenko, both of whom were sentenced in the United States to long prison terms for separate criminal convictions, the Foreign Ministry's official representative Alexander Lukashevich said.

He said that Russia considers the sentences passed to be biased and politicized. He said that inquiries on their extradition will be submitted to the Justice Ministry.

"We are still waiting for the reaction of the United States. Unfortunately we have not yet received a response," he said. Lukashevich added that Russian diplomats have remained in constant contact with both prisoners in order to render them assistance and support.

On April 5, suspected large-scale arms dealer Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the New York Federal Court for planning to sell arms to the leftist Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Yaroshenko was sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding in the smuggling of a cocaine shipment to the United States.

Previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said he is determined to have Bout and Yaroshenko returned to Russia.