MOSCOW, April 6 - RAPSI. The United States may deliver to Russia alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout to Russia under the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Both countries are member states of the convention, the Justice Ministry reports on Friday.

A federal judge in New York passed a decision in Bouts high-profile case. He was handed 25 years in prison for conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens, attempted arms trafficking and aiding terrorism.

Valery Shnyakin, the deputy head of the Federation Councils International Affairs Committee, said Russia should offer an exchange to get Bout back home as soon as possible.

The ministry said it is responsible for contacts with the authorities of foreign countries on transferring individuals who have been sentenced, so they can serve their term at home.

"Russia and the United States are member-states of the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Russian citizen Viktor Bout, if convicted in the USA, may be transferred to Russia pursuant to that international arrangement," the ministry reported.