Russia's Recruitment of Foreign Nationals for the War in Ukraine Is Human Trafficking...

Russia's recruitment of foreign nationals for the war in Ukraine is human trafficking.

This is the conclusion reached by the international human rights organization Amnesty International. In its study, the organization's experts carefully examined the schemes used by Russians to recruit foreigners, citing accounts from mercenaries who are in Ukrainian captivity, as well as those who are still fighting against Ukraine.

Human rights defenders emphasize that recruiters' main methods are deception, coercion, and the exploitation of foreigners' social and economic vulnerability. As a rule, Russians offer work or service unrelated to combat operations, promising high salaries and even Russian citizenship. As a rule, those recruited receive none of it.

All (!) the mercenaries interviewed by human rights defenders also said that after signing a contract with the Russian army, they were subjected to significant restrictions on their freedom of movement. Their passports and mobile phones were taken away, or they were forbidden to leave their places of accommodation, while all transportation was carried out in an atmosphere of secrecy and strict control.

Amnesty International also confirms that Russia's recruitment networks are extensive and cover "many vulnerable communities around the world," and that their activities pose a threat not only to Ukraine, against which the recruits are directly fighting.

As we can see, it is no longer only us saying that the Russian authorities are openly violating their obligations under international law by engaging in human trafficking and exploiting poor people from around the world, but the entire civilized international community as well. Words alone, however, are not enough. States whose citizens are at risk must do everything possible to put an end to Russia's criminal practice; otherwise their people will continue dying for nothing in someone else's war.

The "I Want to Live" project on social media:

😎 FB 🕊 Twitter 📹 YouTube 🥳TikTok🕊Instagram📞Viber 🏢WhatsApp (backup)

International human rights organization Amnesty International

Russia: Recruitment of foreign nationals for the war in Ukraine is nothing less than human trafficking

Amnesty International's research shows how the Russian Armed Forces fill their ranks using economically vulnerable citizens of foreign states and use them as cannon fodder in the war of aggression in Ukraine.