A former American city council member who is wanted in the United States on child pornography charges appears to have fled to Russia and joined the Russian military, according to footage shared by regional authorities in the northern Khanty-Mansi autonomous district.

Wilmer Puello-Mota, former city councilor of Holyoke, Massachusetts, reportedly left the United States on Jan. 7 in violation of court orders while being tried in Rhode Island for possession of child pornography.

The Massachusetts-based newspaper The Republican reported last month that people who know Puello-Mota had recognized his voice in a short video showing the capture of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka in February.

    • edric@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Oh if only those countless republicans walked the talk and actually move there since they love Putin so much.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I mean, if he doesn’t get special treatment it’s a death sentence…

    But I’m betting Russia keeps him safe as a propaganda piece

    • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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      9 months ago

      As a signal to the world that even the worst people are welcome in fascist russia?

      I dont see what other propaganda this guy could possibly be involved in, and western media orgs won’t touch a pedophile with a ten foot pole.

      • fuego@lemmy.ca
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        9 months ago

        The unbiased signal would be “if you’re dissatisfied with your current nation, Russia may take you in.”

        I dont see what other propaganda this guy could possibly be involved in

        Probably because you’re biased from spending too much time on these forums.

        • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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          9 months ago

          Nobody but the absolute scum of the earth will be enticed by the news that Russia took in a pedophile because he was american and wanted to avoid prison.

        • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Fleeing CSAM charges is not even close to “dissatisfied with your current nation.”

          He is fleeing justice from harming children. There doesn’t need to be much propaganda here to convince moral people that this individual is amoral. Moral people don’t possess CSAM.

          I sincerely hope you bite your tongue the next time it attempts to form words.

          • fuego@lemmy.ca
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            9 months ago

            The thing is, this guy found sanctuary in Russia as well as Snowden.

            I know you’d like to think the world is black and white, but reality is a bit more complicated than that.

            Might want to calm down with the personal insults considering you don’t actually have a point.

  • Gork@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    So how long until we see this guy pop up again, but in FPV drone footage, seconds before his demise?

    • fuego@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      “He liberated Avdiivka fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with Russians.”

      “I definitely would do it again, I’d go back if I could,” Puello-Mota says in the video as he recounts his experience fighting in an “international brigade” alongside the Russian army.

      What does it take for you to admit when you’re wrong?

      • khannie@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Let’s see if he lasts the war before calling them wrong, eh?

        I’m sure the Russians will protect their little American paedo trophy though.

        • fuego@lemmy.ca
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          9 months ago

          The guy I was replying to was implying he would be dead quickly.

          You’re now moving the goalposts to “he won’t survive the war.”

          This is how those indoctrinated by propaganda operate.

          But let me guess: you’re immune to propaganda because the only propaganda is coming from Russia.

          • khannie@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            What he said was “let’s see how long he lasts”. You’re the one inferring the fast death.

            I didn’t move any goalposts. In fact I thought I made it clear that Russia wouldn’t let their little paedo trophy die.

            Of course I’m not immune to propaganda. Neither are you as you’ve made abundantly clear.

            • fuego@lemmy.ca
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              9 months ago

              “Let’s see how long he lasts" implies that he won’t last long.

              If you can’t understand this, then you need to improve your reading comprehension.

              I think you can understand it, you just don’t want to admit he’s wrong so you’re moving goalposts like I said from the very beginning.

              Neither are you as you’ve made abundantly clear.

              Correct, I thought Ukraine actually had a chance of winning at first.

              • khannie@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Yeah maybe you’re right about what was implied by them, but you keep conveniently ignoring the fact that I said Russia will keep him alive while parotting “shoulder to shoulder” propaganda and making out like I think I’m immune.

                I thought Ukraine actually had a chance at winning at first.

                Oh. Hello again. Didn’t like being called out in your last account so decided to create a new one. Lol.

              • BassTurd@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Based on the voting response of your comments, it might be your reading comprehension that could use some work. “Let’s see how long he lasts” doesn’t imply anything but an undefined timeframe. Just because you inferred something from that doesn’t make you right.

                • fuego@lemmy.ca
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                  9 months ago

                  People are downvoting me because I don’t show unwavering support for Ukraine.

                  It’s how tribalism works and you can’t see it.

    • sparky@lemmy.federate.cc@lemmy.federate.cc
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      9 months ago

      If he survives does he get Russian citizenship or something? Hard to believe going to fight in a foreign war of aggression is a smart move, but I guess he figures the alternative is a long time in prison?