“They offered me $40,000 to go to Russia,” recruited Bolivian says

A Bolivian man says he was recruited to travel to Russia after responding to an advertisement on social media. His departure was scheduled for July 26, with a route from Santa Cruz through São Paulo and Istanbul before reaching Moscow.

The recruiter allegedly offered him $40,000, to be paid in Russia after he signed a contract. The man said his tickets had already been purchased and that he had also been promised stability, free medical care if he became ill, and Russian citizenship.

“I was offered $40,000. They were going to give it to me there, in Russia, once the contract was signed,” he said, describing the planned journey. He said he accepted the offer because he wanted to improve his living conditions amid the crisis in Bolivia.

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I was offered $40,000. They were going to give it to me there, in Russia, once the contract was signed. The tickets have already been paid for. The trip is scheduled for July 26, meaning I would leave from Santa Cruz on Sunday for São Paulo, Brazil, then Istanbul, Turkey, and finally Moscow, Russia.

The man said the recruiter did not initially specify his duties. Later, he received a list of possible positions, including security, infrastructure and border protection, patrols, drone and vehicle operation, communications, electronic warfare, mechanics, logistics, medical support and cooking. The list also included combat roles such as rifleman, machine gunner and sniper.

After seeing reports about the uncertain fate of Bolivians and the alleged deaths of two citizens fighting Ukraine, he decided not to travel. He then made the recruitment effort public.

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I clicked on the WhatsApp link and wrote to them. They asked me whether I agreed and whether I was willing to go to that place, Russia. With the crisis we have in the country, who would not be tempted by so much money?