International
Russia accuses the United States of recruiting Mexican and Colombian prisoners to fight in Ukraine
Russia’s Foreign Espionage Service (SVR) accused private military companies in the United States of recruiting inmates from Mexico and Colombia in US prisons to send them to fight in the war in Ukraine.
“Private US military companies, under the direction of the Federal Drug Control Administration and the FBI, began recruiting representatives of Mexican and Colombian drug cartels who are serving sentences in U.S. prisons to participate in the Ukrainian conflict,” the SVR said in a statement.
According to the entity, “the United States is resorting to increasingly desperate methods in its attempts to change the situation on the Ukrainian front, by reinforcing the ranks of demobilized Ukrainian military with multinational scum with tendencies to armed violence.”
“Of course, the prospects of a new injection of ‘fortune soldiers’ chosen from serial killers, drug addicts and rapists (…) raise concern. However, the US plans to achieve a tactical advantage on the battlefield with this are destined for failure,” the SVR added.
He added that the first game of “these hitmen is scheduled to be transferred to the battlefield in the summer of this year.”
“The criminal gang will be made up of several hundred Mexicans and Colombians. In case they accept this ‘work’ they are promised total amnesty in the hope that they will never return” from Ukraine, the entity said.
The SVR warned that “if the pilot project (…) turns out, the recruitment program of killers will continue and will be expanded with the appeal of criminals from other countries with serious crime situations.”
However, he pointed out that this process is going through difficulties, since “negotiations with the narco-barons are difficult” and no criminal dares to cooperate with the US authorities without the approval of their bosses.
“The bosses of the gangs try to sell their henchmen as expensive as possible, putting compliance with American plans at risk,” the Russian espionage estimated.
The SVR pointed out that this shows that President Joe Biden’s Administration “admits in practice his impotence and shows us once again the inconsistency of the Kiev regime boosted by them.”
After the failure of the summer counteroffensive of 2023, Ukraine has had great difficulties with the call to ranks, which have been aggravated by the delays in the approval of a new mobilization law, which has been bogged down in the Supreme Rada for four months.
The president of Ukraine himself, Volodymyr Zelensky, called on Ukrainian deputies to put aside “populism” and approve the new mobilization law.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
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