Amnesty accuses Russia of trafficking foreigners to fight in Ukraine
Report reveals foreign nationals were misled with job offers, then forced into Russia's army upon arrival.
A new report by Amnesty International has accused Russia of tricking foreigners into fighting on Ukraine’s front lines in what amounts to “human trafficking”.
Victims from Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka and South Africa were duped into travelling to Russia to take up well-paid civilian or non-combat jobs, then forced to join the Russian army on arrival, according to the report released on Thursday.
Russian recruiters also targeted migrants and refugees in Russia and coerced them into joining the military, the report said.
A South African man who applied online for a driving job in Poland was told to fly to Moscow to pick up a truck and drive it to Poland. His wife told Amnesty International: “Upon arrival to Moscow, everything was taken from him. He was told that he would not be going to Poland and that he is becoming a soldier.”