[REVISION HISTORY]

Panama seeks repatriation of citizens from Russia-Ukraine

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-26 03:12 UTC → 2026-09-26 15:43 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Panamanian authorities continue efforts to repatriate citizens involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict following deceptive recruitment practices. While 17 citizens have been successfully returned, the conflict has claimed the lives of two nationals from Colón: 31-year-old Michael Alexander Navas and 19-year-old Abimael Becerra Ortiz. Investigations by the Public Ministry into aggravated human trafficking and deceptive social media recruitment have led to the detention of three individuals. ~~Approximately 77~~ Panamanian ~~nationals are believed~~ judicial authorities have specifically ordered the preventive detention of José Lyn Antonio Ramírez Rodríguez, María Irene García Domínguez, and Rolando Pinzón. The suspects face charges of aggravated human trafficking and organized crime, accused of using false job offers on social media to ~~be involved with either Russian or Ukrainian forces.~~ recruit Panamanian citizens for combat in Russia. Investigations have uncovered financial movements exceeding $800,000 sent from Colombia to facilitate these operations. Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez has escalated diplomatic efforts, addressing the United Nations Security Council to request that Russia and Ukraine facilitate the return of citizens on humanitarian and consular grounds. He urged the international community to prevent the conflict from becoming a ‘diplomatic routine’ and emphasized that a sustainable solution must be found through negotiations rather than the battlefield. During the UN General ~~Assembly in New York,~~ Assembly, Martínez-Acha Vásquez met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss these repatriation ~~requests.~~ requests and raised concerns regarding the freedom of navigation for Panamanian merchant vessels in the Black Sea. Lavrov stated that Russia will review the requests on a ‘case-by-case ~~basis,’ noting that each situation must be handled individually.~~ basis.’ Martínez-Acha Vásquez maintained that ‘no Panamanian should be forgotten in a war that is not theirs,’ ~~stressing~~ emphasizing the ~~importance of~~ need for open diplomatic ~~channels to assist those wishing to leave the conflict zone.~~ channels.

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