The United States Border Patrol has detained a veteran of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner after he attempted to cross the border from Mexico. Weeks before what happened, He was honored as a combat veteran by Vladimir Putin.
According to the medium Tim Praliev, 31, was arrested by US agents on January 4. The justice of the state of Texas has reported that “was in possession of Russian and Kazakh passportscash and a drone that he carried in his backpack.” In addition, he himself admitted to being a member of Wagner, a Russian militia designated as “transnational criminal organization“.
After pleading guilty, “His current whereabouts are unknown.“. The media has had access to the social networks of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation in Russia, where it can be confirmed that the Kremlin honored his figure last December 2024. This organization was created by Putin in April 2023 to “support combat veterans of the war in Russia against Ukraine“.
An acquaintance of the detainee, residing in Kazakhstan, has answered the questions posed by the media and has confirmed his presence at Putin’s awards. “I would like him to stay in the United States. Because if he came here, they would arrest him. If he were there, I would go too. And what’s here? Poverty?” he pointed out.
The prosecutor in charge of the case, Amanda McColganhas stated that the United States government “is concerned about the safety of the community when this defendant is released.” In statements reported by the media, he affirms that the furor is due to his membership in the Wagner group.
