Two Colombian men, Alexander Ante and Jose Aranda, were allegedly kidnapped by Russian authorities in Venezuela while attempting to return from Ukraine after fighting for a controversial military battalion. After 43 days of searching, they were located in a Russian prison. Their families are concerned for their welfare and have faced difficulties in contacting them, while they may face serious charges as alleged mercenaries.
Reports indicate that two Colombian men, Alexander Ante, aged 46, and Jose Aranda, aged 37, were allegedly kidnapped by the Russian authorities while in Venezuela. They were seized in Caracas as they sought to return home after their involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. The men had served in Ukraine’s 49th Infantry Battalion Karpatska Sic— a unit with controversial affiliations—since 2023, leveraging Ante’s experience from the Colombian army.
The incident unfolded when Mr. Ante informed his mother to preserve some traditional Colombian stew for him before he vanished. A search lasting 43 days ensued, culminating in the emergence of a video published by Russian state media, in which both men announced their imprisonment in Moscow. In the footage, they read their names while appearing handcuffed and attended by masked guards, highlighting the gravity of their situation.
Both men had reportedly sent videos during their travels, including one from Madrid shortly before their disappearance. Mr. Aranda had intended to return to Popayán to celebrate his 37th birthday, yet his family lost contact after that point. Attempts to communicate with them through the court-appointed lawyer have unfortunately borne no fruit for their families, who remain deeply concerned about their welfare.
Mr. Ante’s mother, Otilia, expressed her anguish, saying, “I do not know if he is cold, if he is hungry, or how they are treating him. I know nothing. It is so hard… Sometimes I wish I could catch a plane and leave, but where could I go?” Meanwhile, there is ongoing diplomatic silence between Venezuela and Russia regarding this case.
Currently, Alexander Ante and Jose Aranda are reportedly remanded for a six-month period pending further proceedings, facing charges as alleged mercenaries, which could impose sentences ranging from 12 to 18 years in prison. This case has drawn international attention and raises questions about the treatment of foreign fighters in the ongoing conflict.
The alarming situation of Alexander Ante and Jose Aranda highlights the risks faced by foreign fighters involved in conflicts abroad. Their reported kidnapping and imprisonment by Russian authorities in Venezuela has elicited concern from their families and underscores broader implications regarding diplomacy and the treatment of mercenaries. As their families continue to seek answers, the men are bracing for potentially severe legal repercussions.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
