A former fighter for Vladimir Putin’s notorious Wagner Group has been arrested after illegally crossing the U.S. border from Mexico, officials said.
Timur Praliev, a 30-year-old dual passport holder, was detained near Roma, Texas, on January 4 after wading across the Rio Grande River. He was reportedly in possession of $4,000 in U.S. currency, 60,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $2,895), and a drone, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan.
Praliev admitted during questioning to being a member of the Wagner Group, a private military company widely regarded as operating under the control of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Wagner Group has been accused of committing war crimes, including murder, rape, torture, and robbery of civilians, as well as executing deserters in multiple countries where it operates.
The U.S. has designated the Wagner Group as a paramilitary organization linked to atrocities across Africa and Ukraine, where its fighters have played a significant role in the ongoing invasion.
“The defendant was also in possession of a drone in his backpack when he crossed into the United States,” McColgan said, adding that Praliev’s association with the group raises concerns about community safety.
Praliev, identified as a citizen of Kazakhstan, was charged with illegal entry into the United States, a federal misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 days in federal custody.
The criminal complaint revealed that Praliev carried both Russian and Kazakh passports at the time of his arrest. Kazakhstan prohibits dual citizenship, requiring individuals who acquire a foreign passport to renounce their Kazakh nationality within 30 days.
Reports from Ukrainian outlet Idel.Realii suggest that Praliev served as a veteran fighter for the Wagner Group in Bashkortostan, Russia. His motives for crossing the U.S. border with a drone remain unclear.
McColgan emphasized the government’s concern about Praliev’s release, citing his affiliation with an organization associated with political violence.
