Venezuela extradited two Colombians who fought for Ukraine to Russia

On August 30, the FSB announced the detention of two Colombians who are alleged to have participated in combat on Ukraine's side against Russian forces. El Tiempo reports that the men were actually detained in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, and subsequently extradited to Russia.

The Colombians attracted the attention of Venezuelan police due to wearing Ukrainian Armed Forces uniforms, according to a relative of one of the detainees. They were en route home and had stopped in Caracas.

This appears to be the first case of foreign nationals being extradited to Russia for fighting alongside Ukraine.

The FSB has released a video purportedly featuring the detained Colombians. They are facing trial under a criminal charge of mercenarism, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The FSB has not clarified where or when the Colombians were detained.

It is important to note that volunteers from over 50 countries serve in the International Legion of the Ukrainian Intelligence, all of whom are regular Ukrainian military personnel and do not fall under the definition of mercenaries.

The Russian military also includes foreign nationals. For instance, the Indian government recently reported that eight Indian citizens have been killed while serving in the Russian military.

Authorities in Venezuela

The US and the EU do not recognize the results of the July 28 elections in Venezuela, where incumbent President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner according to official reports. The opposition has alleged election fraud, leading to widespread protests across the country.

The EU has warned that Venezuela may soon face a serious crisis if Maduro fails to substantiate his electoral victory.