Peruvians Sent to Russia Allegedly Threatened with Death After Reporting Labor Scam
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Peruvian citizens who traveled to Russia with job offers have allegedly been ensnared in a labor trafficking scheme and are now facing death threats.
- Victims were promised high salaries for civilian jobs but were allegedly forced to sign new contracts in Russian upon arrival, obligating them to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Approximately 600 Peruvians are believed to have been recruited, with at least 135 families registered as affected and seeking urgent state intervention for repatriation.
La Repรบblica newspaper reports on a deeply concerning situation involving Peruvian citizens lured to Russia with false promises of lucrative employment. These individuals, seeking better economic opportunities, have allegedly found themselves trapped in a dangerous scheme, facing threats and forced participation in the armed conflict.
Los encierran, los presionan y reciรฉn ahรญ se enteran de que van a combatir. Luego son llevados a cuarteles para un proceso de adoctrinamiento militar
The lawyer representing the affected families, Percy Salinas, detailed how citizens were promised substantial initial payments and monthly salaries for roles such as cooks or drivers. However, upon arrival in Russia, they were reportedly met by individuals who coerced them into signing new contracts, written in Russian, that bound them to military service in the Russia-Ukraine war.
This betrayal has left families in Peru in a state of fear and distress, as their loved ones in Russia are reportedly threatened with violence to prevent them from speaking out. The involvement of Peruvian recruiters in this alleged trafficking network further compounds the tragedy, highlighting a complex criminal operation that preys on vulnerable individuals seeking work abroad.
Les han enviado videos con balas y mensajes amenazantes para que no declaren. Estรกn atemorizados
La Repรบblica emphasizes the urgent need for governmental action, calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the repatriation of these citizens. The scale of the operation, with an estimated 600 Peruvians potentially recruited, underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential for widespread harm. The newspaper frames this as a critical issue of national concern, demanding immediate attention and a robust response to protect Peruvian citizens abroad.
Lo que pedimos es que la Cancillerรญa gestione la repatriaciรณn de nuestros compatriotas. Las familias ya han presentado un documento formal solicitando ser แd
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by La Repรบblica in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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