Two Colombian Men Detained in Russia After Disappearing from Venezuela: Accusations of Mercenary Activity

Russian authorities have detained two Colombian nationals who had been missing for over a month, accusing them of fighting as mercenaries for Ukraine. The two men, José Aron Medina and Alexander Ante, were last heard from in mid-July while on a layover in Caracas, Venezuela, en route to their home country of Colombia. Their sudden disappearance and recent appearance in Russian custody have raised significant concerns and sparked international diplomatic efforts.

Medina's wife, Cielo Imbachí, reported that she last communicated with her husband 40 days ago when he was in Caracas. At the time, Medina was returning to Colombia after spending nine months in Ukraine. However, he never completed his journey home. On Friday, a video surfaced showing Medina and Ante in the custody of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), which claimed the two were involved in combat against Russian forces as part of Ukraine's Carpathian Sich battalion.

According to the FSB, the Colombians were carrying documents and wearing clothing bearing insignia from the Ukrainian military, allegedly confirming their involvement in illegal activities. Russian state media reported that Medina and Ante were detained in Venezuela before being extradited to Russia, where they are currently being held in Moscow's Lefortovsky District Court until at least October 22.

The incident has drawn attention to the close economic and military ties between Russia and Venezuela. It also serves as a stark warning to the thousands of foreign fighters who have joined Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The Ukrainian International Legion, which organizes foreign fighters, has refrained from commenting on the case but expressed skepticism about the circumstances surrounding the detention of Medina and Ante.

Imbachí, desperate for answers, said she has received no information from any of the involved countries. "The last time I spoke with my husband was on July 18th. Since then, nothing.", she told CNN. "Venezuela just took them and deported them to Russia, and we don't understand why."

Venezuela's government has not responded to requests for comment, leaving Imbachí and her family in a state of uncertainty. The Colombian foreign ministry has confirmed that it is awaiting official reports from its consulates in Caracas and Moscow to determine how to best assist the detained men.

Medina, 36, and Ante hail from the city of Popayán in western Colombia. Imbachí noted that her husband had traveled to Ukraine in November of last year, joining Ante, who was already in the country. Medina had decided to return home in July, flying from Poland to Spain and then on to Venezuela, reportedly due to the high cost of direct flights from Europe to Colombia.

The decision to transit through Venezuela, a country under strict U.S. sanctions, has added another layer of complexity to the case. A missing-person flyer issued by Colombia's attorney general noted that the two men were last seen at a Venezuelan airport on July 18, wearing Ukrainian military camouflage. Despite efforts by Imbachí and Colombian congressman Jose Uscategui to secure their return, the situation remains unresolved.