| Virginia "Vicky" Peláez Ocampo | |
|---|---|
Photo taken by U.S. Marshals |
|
| Born | 1956 Cuzco, Peru[1] |
| Residence | Moscow, Russia[2] |
| Occupation | Journalist and agent of the Russian Federation |
| Known for | Involvement with Russian Illegals Program |
| Criminal charge | Conspiracy to act as an unlawful agent of a foreign government[3] |
| Criminal penalty | Time served (11 days) |
| Criminal status | Deported to Russia[4] |
| Spouse | Mikhail Vasenkov (a.k.a. Juan Lazaro) |
| Children | Waldo Mariscal Juan Lazaro Jr. |
Virginia "Vicky" Peláez Ocampo (born 1956, Cuzco, Peru)[1] is a Peruvian journalist and columnist, currently for The Moscow News newspaper. She is known for her leftist writings in El Diario La Prensa, a New York City Spanish language newspaper. Prior to working in the United States, Peláez was one of the first female television reporters in Peru where she reported for Frecuencia Latina.[5]
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As a reporter in the 1980s, Peláez gained a reputation as a sensationalist and often placed herself in the stories she was covering. The Peruvian magazine Teleguia called her "the most aggressive journalist on TV."[5][6]
In 1984, Peláez and her cameraman Percy Raborg were kidnapped by the Peruvian rebel group Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA). MRTA demanded Frecuencia Latina air a propaganda video in exchange for the release of Peláez and Raborg. The station agreed to air the video and Peláez and Raborg were released hours after airing.[5] Raborg has since claimed that Peláez was a willing participant in the kidnapping.[7]
After moving to the United States, she worked for El Diario La Prensa for over 20 years.[5] Her writings have been critical of United States foreign policy and supportive of Latin American leaders Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro.[8]
In June 2010, Peláez, along with her husband Mikhail Anatolyevich Vasenkov (Михаил Анатольевич Васенков, alias Juan Lazaro) and 9 others, was arrested on charges of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the U.S. Attorney General.[9] The operations of this group was dubbed by American authorities as the "Illegals Program" directed by Russia. Waldo Mariscal, the eldest son of Peláez, insisted the government is persecuting his parents for their political views.[7]
On July 8, 2010, Peláez pleaded guilty to working in the United States as an unregistered foreign agent for Russia, and agreed to be deported and never return, in exchange for the U.S. dropping the more serious charge of money laundering and waiving any jail time.[4] According to her lawyer, Peláez was placed in a Moscow apartment provided by Russian authorities. She turned down a US$2000 per month offer from the Russian government and is planning to return to Peru, which may take her at least a month.[2] Her husband's lawyer stated that Vasenkov also wanted to leave Moscow for Peru: "He says he's Juan Lazaro and he's not from Russia and doesn't speak Russian. He wants to be where his wife is going, to her native country, where it will be easier for Juan Jr. to visit. His family comes first."[10]
On 19 February 2011, it was reported Vicky Peláez returned home to attend her father's burial; she was not accompanied by husband Mikhail Vasenkov.[11]
Since August 2011, Vicky Peláez contributes to The Moscow News[12]