MOSCOW, August 23 - RAPSI. Russia has submitted the necessary documents to the United States to start the process of extraditing alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout, the Justice Ministry told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

Bout was arrested in Thailand in March 2008 during a sting operation led by U.S. agents and extradited to the United States in November 2010 after spending over 2.5 years in a Thai prison.

The Federal District Court of New York found him guilty of conspiring to kill U.S. officials and citizens, acquiring and intending to sell Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles, and providing support to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. He received 25 years in prison.

Earlier, Russia voiced its readiness to cooperate with the United States to transfer Bout to Russia, so that he can finish serving his sentence at home.