All assessments of the criminal prosecution of specific individuals, including the designation of detained persons as political prisoners, reflect the position of our Project. Such assessments are not based on the views and assessments of the individuals being prosecuted, their families, friends or lawyers, and do not imply their consent or approval. The information regarding the facts of specific criminal cases published on our Project’s website has been obtained from public sources and does not imply or require the consent of the individuals mentioned therein or their representatives.

Jose Aron Medina Aranda

Date of birth: July 19, 1988 (37 years old)
citizenship: Колумбия
Occupation: военная служба
Article of the Criminal Code:  359 ч. 3
Form of repression:  pre-trial detention
Pursuit stage:  verdict delivered – appeal pending
Sentence:  13 лет лишения свободы в колонии строгого режима
Current location:  Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)

Jose Aron Medina Aranda is a Colombian citizen and father of two children (one of whom is a minor). He previously served in his country's regular army and worked in security. In November 2023, he joined the 49th Infantry Battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the "Carpathian Sich." While attempting to return to Colombia via Venezuela, he was detained by local authorities on July 18, 2024 (his Ukrainian military uniform drew attention to him). He was subsequently secretly extradited to Moscow, where the FSB charged him with mercenarism. In November 2025, a court sentenced him to 13 years in prison.

Новости по теме

20 Mar, 2025 | 15:59

Seven foreign nationals prosecuted for serving in the Ukrainian armed forces are political prisoners