Wilmer Puello-Mota, 28, a former city councillor of Holyoke, Massachusetts, went missing on 7 January, two days before he was to appear in court in Rhode Island on possession of child sexual abuse images and obstruction of justice charges.
This week, Puello-Mota resurfaced at an enlistment centre in the Russian region of Khanty-Mansiysk in western Siberia, with footage appearing to show him signing a military contract, seated in a room adorned with photographs of Vladimir Putin and the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu.
"An American signed a military contract at the patriots centre in Khanty-Mansiysk," reads a message alongside the video published by the region's official channel on Telegram.
This story is from the April 06, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 06, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Current accounts What the top three ethical banks offer
They are top of the Which? best-buy list. But changes loom, so will they still live up to their green credentials?
Healing the high streets Debenhams stores get new lease of life
Science labs, parks, health centres and community arts hubs, lecture halls, bowling alleys and even a submarine training centre.
Some Tesco staff 'paid below living wage' as CEO is given £10m deal
The UK's biggest supermarket chain, Tesco, faced criticism over its chief executive's near-£10m pay deal at its annual shareholder meeting yesterday.
Calls for the return of dog licences to bring unruly pets - and owners - to heel
Dogs and their owners must be brought to heel with the return of dog licences, registration for breeders and a ban on toxic spot-on flea treatments, campaigners have said.
Cold war ghosts Why Russian warships are back in Havana
Where once vast American cruise ships disgorged mojito-thirsty holidaymakers into the crumbling streets of old Havana, now lurks the eerie darkness of the Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan.
'Russian roulette' Centrists alarmed by a wild week in French politics
The prime minister, Gabriel Attal, stared ahead with his arms folded while another minister covered his face with his hands.
Hamas has no idea how many Israeli hostages are alive, official says
A senior Hamas official has said the group does not know how many of the Israeli hostages it is holding in Gaza are still alive, as Israeli and Hamas sources set out positions that could undermine the possibility of an imminent ceasefire deal.
Cede land and pull out troops, Putin tells Ukraine on eve of peace conference
Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine cede more land, withdraw troops deeper inside its own country and drop its Nato ambitions for him to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
Rally for Orgreave as Labour promises inquiry
Campaigners will gather at Sheffield City Hall today for a rally to mark 40 years since the notorious \"battle\" of Orgreave during the 1984-85 miners' strike, and will call for the full truth about the scandal to be addressed.
Character's portrayal in film about finding of Richard III was defamatory, judge rules
The portrayal of a former university official in Steve Coogan's film about the discovery of the remains of Richard III is defamatory, a high court judge has ruled.
