The Russian Ministry of Justice has submitted an inquiry to the US authorities regarding transfer from USA to Russia of Konstantin Yaroshenko, the pilot convicted and sentenced to deprivation of liberty for a period of 20 years for illegal trafficking of cocaine, Lenta.ru reports with reference to the head of the ministry, Alexander Konovalov.

"I can confirm that we have submitted the inquiry regarding transfer of Yaroshenko to Russia. The Russia’s compelling stand is as follows: Russian citizens should serve the sentence in Russia", - Konovalov said, adding that “we should use the mechanism of international conventions” in Yaroshenko’s case and in But’s case (But has been convicted in arms trade). It was reported on May 24th that But’s advocates have contacted the Ministry of Justice asking to extradite But to Russia.

Konovalov also noted that “the country, which has given the sentences” made the Ministry of Justice self-conscious by using “not quite transparent methods”.

Yaroshenko’s wife reported that soon after the Ministry’s inquiry submitted on May 24th Yaroshenko was taken to disciplinary cell for the first time. The pilot was handcuffed during a walk in the prison’s yard in spite of absence of any signs of disorderly conduct. The pilot’s wife associates this with the Ministry’s inquiry.

The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Lukashevich, has also brought up a point of pilot’s return to Russia on May 24th. "The question of his return to Russia is being constantly raised during bilateral political contacts at multiple levels", - the diplomat said.

At present Yaroshenko is serving his sentence at Fort Dix prison, New Jersey. He was arrested in Liberia together with three Africans in consequence of operation of US secret service in 2010. According to the investigators, Yaroshenko was going to transport four tons of cocaine intended for transportation to USA from Venezuela to Liberia. The verdict of guilty was brought in in September 2011.