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- Full name: Rafael Muñoz Perez
- Pseudonym: “Maki”, “Rafa”, “Republikaniskt”
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: Spain, fmr Ukraine
- Affiliation: fmr Carlos Palomino International Brigade [BICP], fmr East Battalion [BV]
Rafael Muñoz (°ca 1987) is a former social worker from Madrid who gained some notoriety for his involvement in pro-Russian militancy in the mid-2010s.1 Muñoz had moved to Asturias in 2010 where he became active in local left-wing extremist politics.2 Muñoz joined the Communist Party of Spain [PCE; Partido Comunista de España] that is part of the United Left [IU; Izquierda Unida] coalition.3 He also participated in animal rights and environmentalist activism.4 Following the 2014 outbreak of violence in Ukraine, Muñoz became a supporter of the Russian cause.
By the spring of 2014, Muñoz had resolved to go help pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine. In July 2014, he and an associate from Extremadura traveled to the Donbas region.5 They apparently passed through other groups before linking up with the East Battalion [BV; Batalon Vostok], a Russian militant group loyal to the Donetsk People’s Republic. The two men received training and were seen carrying weapons in pictures and videos posted on social media.6 Muñoz also starred in a few videos in which he explained the cause of the Russian rebels.7 Muñoz and his companion were eventually joined by six other Spanish communists and formed the Carlos Palomina International Brigade [BICP; Brigada Internacional Carlos Palomina]. At one point, he suffered permanent damage to his hearing caused by “detonations”.8
Muñoz returned to Spain in November 2014.9 He was arrested by police during a series of sweeps across Spain on Feb. 27, 2015.10 Muñoz was charged with cooperating in crimes resulting in murder and compromising the independence and peace of Spain, but was released later that day.11 Spanish authorities later quietly dropped charges due to an alleged lack of evidence.12 He has since kept a low profile.
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