Bolivia investigates fraudulent recruitment of citizens for Russian armed forces
The Bolivian Public Ministry has opened an investigation into alleged deception of fellow citizens who were sent to fight in Ukraine with false job offers. Videos on social media show Bolivians in Russian military uniforms in conflict zones.
Bolivia investigates fraudulent recruitment of citizens for Russian armed forces
The Public Ministry of Bolivia announced that it is investigating the alleged recruitment through deception of Bolivian citizens for incorporation into the Russian armed forces and their deployment to fight in Ukraine. The job offers presented to those affected bore no relation to the reality of their final destination.
In recent days, videos distributed on social media show Bolivians dressed in Russian Army uniforms deployed in war zones. One of them, José María Soleto, 29 years old, appears narrating his life on the front alongside a cousin and two other people who identify themselves as Peruvian and Colombian.
The country's attorney general, Roger Mariaca, confirmed that an investigation is already underway. "The department of the Public Ministry specialised in human trafficking is in action," he told the press. He added that requests for international cooperation have been sent to advance the investigations.
Soleto was a street vendor in Bolivia and left the country attracted by a supposed job offer with a salary of "16,000 dollars". His wife confirmed yesterday that he has died.
The investigations are focused on determining who operated the recruitment networks and how the transfer of citizens to the battlefields was coordinated. The authorities of Peru and Colombia are also investigating similar cases of fraudulent recruitment of their nationals.
In May, the Russian embassy in Peru acknowledged in a statement that citizens of that country had signed contracts to join the Russian armed forces, although it maintained that they did so voluntarily.
Source: Skai.gr
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)