Giraldo moved to Russia in the early 2000s. Since then he has studied in the People’s Friendship University of Russia, got married, and has become a professional tourism manager specializing in Latin America. Until 2021 Giraldo also
had a cake business.
On April 10, 2022, the law enforcement
detained Giraldo and charged him with “entering a conspiracy to disseminate false information about the Russian Army” (article 207.3, part 2, sub-paragraph
b). The Investigative Committee
claims that the Columbian citizen had installed devices in shopping centers, which transmitted “false information” about the “special operation”. Giraldo
pleaded guilty but stated that he only wished to provide an alternative point of view regarding the “special operation”. Giraldo
was trying to stay neutral with respect to the “special operation” and condemned only the fact of military activities itself.