Vicky Pelaez lived in New York and was a columnist for the Spanish language El Diario La Prensa. She is now accused of being an undercover Russian spy.
Pelaez is originally from Peru, where she worked as a TV reporter and moved to the United States to work as a print reporter.
Javier Castaño, the former managing editor, El Diario La Prensa has known here for a long time and was surprised by the allegations.
“She’s always writing about defending Cuba, Eva Morales, and always protecting the Indians from South America. I figured it was probably something from the Shining Path or something from Peru, but then when I heard it was from Russia I said 'Oh my God, this is impossible',” said Castaño.
He argues that so far the details and case against Pelaez seem week. The facts are very limited, no specifics are given on what she and her husband may or may not have done.
Castaño said he does not know Pelaez’s husband too well. He is from Uruguay, taught at a University and was never very political.Pelaez was passionate about writing and Latin America, and to Castaño’s knowledge she did not cover Russia.