Deadly violence against Colombia’s social leaders persists
Wiretap scandal rocks Colombia’s government
Colombia charges mining executives over terrorist financing
Colombia’s prosecution raids president’s office amid growing tensions
Guerrillas threaten Colombia’s local elections
Colombia’s ceasefire talks with ELN rebels extended
NGO’s urge Colombia to sink investor protection treaties
Bogota court refuses to drop fraud and bribery...
Petro ends ceasefire with FARC dissidents in south...
Colombia’s prosecution cornered over drug links
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
(Image credit: Parker Crooks)
News

ELN rebels say they killed Russian hostage

by Adriaan Alsema September 3, 2017
2.3K

Colombia’s last-standing rebel group, the ELN, has told news agency Reuters it killed a Russian hostage in April when he tried to escape.

The Armenia-born captive, Arsen Voskanyan, had been kidnapped in November while allegedly trying to illegally collect poisonous frogs for export.

He was shot and killed after detonating a hand grenade that killed multiple guerrillas, unit leader “Yerson” told Reuters in a rare interview in the jungles of the northwestern Choco province.

“He’s dead,” said the guerrilla commander about the hostage who the rebels in April said had escaped after shooting his captors in the jungle municipality of Bajo Baudo.


Russian ELN hostage ‘escapes, injures 5 guerrillas, gets lost in Colombia jungle’



The grenade exploded … several of our boys were wounded, the entire unit of five boys. He fled, he was shot and killed … The issue of his body will be negotiated.”

“Yerson”

The admitted killing of a foreign hostage could further complicate peace talks with the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos, which has been negotiating a ceasefire for months.


Colombia’s govt and ELN rebels enter conclave to reach ceasefire deal before papal visit


The area where the former hostage is now lost is among the most dangerous jungle regions of Colombia as it is not only home to the ELN, but also their arch rivals, the paramilitary AGC group.

Both parties have clashed on numerous occasions over the past few months, causing multiple civilian casualties and several instances of mass displacement.


8 kidnapped in 10 days as war in west Colombia continues


The ELN, Colombia’s last-standing guerrilla group, has been fighting the Colombian state since 1964 and for decades has used kidnapping both for extortion and political purposes.

The group released its most prominent hostage, former Congressman Odin Sanchez, in February.

It is unknown how many Colombians and foreigners are currently held captive by the 1,500-men guerrilla army that has so far refused to give up kidnapping as a means to finance their organization.

ChocoELNforeign citizenshostageskidnappingRussia

Contribute

Trending

  • Colombia’s prosecution raids president’s office amid growing tensions

  • Guerrillas threaten Colombia’s local elections

  • Colombia’s ceasefire talks with ELN rebels extended

For patrons

Downloads for patrons

Related articles

  • Colombia’s ceasefire talks with ELN rebels extended

  • Colombia’s government and ELN rebels begin ceasefire talks

  • ELN kills at least 9 soldiers in northeast Colombia: military

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Rss

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion