They are the latest foreign fighters to get lengthy jail terms as “mercenaries” by Russian-installed authorities after joining Ukraine's army.
“For participating in hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Alexander Ante, 48, and Jose Aron Medina Aranda, 37, were each sentenced to 13 years in prison, the prosecutor's office said on Telegram.
The pair had fought for Ukraine in 2023 and 2024, and then vanished in July while on a stopover in Russian ally Venezuela en route back home after their deployment.
Colombian daily El Tiempo reported in July 2024 that police had arrested them in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, still wearing their Ukrainian army uniforms.
The pair were next seen in a video published by Russia's FSB security service, handcuffed, wearing Russian prison clothing and being walked through a court building by masked security officers.
“I don't know if we will see them again one day, that's the sad reality,” Medina's wife, Cielo Paz, told AFP. She has had no contact with him since his arrest, she added, denouncing what she said was an unjust sentence.
Bogota says dozens of Colombians have been killed in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, where many have flocked to take up arms against Russia.
Moscow has prosecuted captured foreign fighters as “mercenaries,” a charge which carries up to 15 years in prison, rather than treating them as captured prisoners of war with protections under the Geneva Conventions.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
