According to a statement issued on Friday, individuals were “recruited through deceptive job offers to work as security agents and other roles” in Russia, with promises of financial rewards.
Peru has opened an investigation into an alleged human trafficking network accused of luring its citizens with false job offers in Russia, only for them to be sent to fight in the war against Ukraine, the public prosecutor’s office said.
According to a statement issued on Friday, individuals were “recruited through deceptive job offers to work as security agents and other roles” in Russia, with promises of financial rewards.
The investigation will focus on suspected crimes of “human trafficking” and “aggravated human trafficking,” the office added.
Percy Salinas, a lawyer representing families of Peruvians believed to have ended up on the front lines in Ukraine, told local broadcaster N that 13 Peruvians have died in the conflict so far, according to AFP.
He said recruits were allegedly offered monthly payments ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, and that around 600 Peruvians may have been drawn into the scheme since last October to fight for Russia.
In a statement released on Thursday, Russia’s embassy in Lima confirmed that some Peruvians had signed contracts to join the Russian armed forces.
Meanwhile, Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had requested clarification from the Russian embassy regarding the situation and the whereabouts of its nationals serving in the Russian military. It also reminded that Peruvian citizens must obtain official permission before enlisting in a foreign armed force.
On Thursday, families of some of those affected staged a protest outside the ministry in Lima, demanding the repatriation of their relatives, whom they say were recruited under false pretences and sent to fight in Ukraine.
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