“During interrogation, Praliyev confessed that he fought in the Russian Wagner PMC. The US considers this paramilitary group to be involved in war crimes, executions and other acts of violence in African countries and in Ukraine,” reads the report.
The US Border Service detained Kazakhstani citizen Timur Praliyev while attempting to cross the US border from Mexico. The incident occurred in December last year.
Praliyev said he was a citizen of Kazakhstan, but he also had a Russian passport. Kazakh law prohibits dual citizenship.
The detainee was also carrying $4,000, 60,000 Mexican pesos, and a drone.
"Praliyev was charged with illegally crossing the border. He pleaded guilty," the statement said.
It is noted that the judge sentenced Praliyev to time already spent in custody, but the detainee remains in federal prison while authorities decide his fate.
Photo source: picture from an open source