reported that contact has been made with the family of the Peruvian Jose Avila Tuanama, a native of Tarapoto, San Martin region, who had enlisted in the Ukrainian Army fighting against Russia and died in combat last weekend.
The
Peruvian government official pledged to closely follow up on the case, reaffirming that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defends the interests of Peru and fellow citizens abroad.
"He (Avila Tuanama) had enlisted to fight alongside the Ukrainian Army against the Russian Army," Ambassador Schialer stated on Wednesday, adding that the patrol Avila was part of, according to gathered information, was ambushed on May 24 or 25.
"Without knowing the exact location of his death, it is known that it occurred very close to where the Ukrainian and Russian armies are confronting each other," the diplomat indicated.
Minister Schialer stated that
"we have made contact with the family," including Mrs. Lola Avila, the fellow countryman's sister, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Peru.
Repatriation
The Avila Tuanama family has requested support from the Peruvian government to repatriate the remains of the deceased fellow citizen, who had been scheduled to return to his homeland in July, at the end of his contract.
"We are making arrangements; we have made contact with the ambassador of Ukraine in Peru, since this involves a formal contract with that country's Army, and there are a number of responsibilities that must be fulfilled —in this case, by the Ukrainian Army," Schialer explained.
After assuring that "we will closely monitor this matter," he reaffirmed that the Foreign Affairs Ministry "will always defend the interests of Peru and Peruvians abroad."