Bolivian Prosecutors Say at Least 31 Citizens Have Been Lured Into Russia's Military

Bolivian prosecutors say at least 31 citizens may have been lured into Russia's military through deceptive job offers, based on four open human-trafficking investigations spanning three departments, according to a report by Mauricio Quiroz Terán for El Deber published September 21.

Four Open Investigations

Prosecutor Giovana Castro said Bolivia's Public Prosecutor's Office has four open investigations into human trafficking for recruitment into armed conflict, covering Santa Cruz, Tarija, and Beni, with up to 31 potential victims identified so far; the Santa Cruz case file alone included around 16 identified individuals as of August. "There has been deception... They have taken advantage of the economic situation these families are going through," Castro said. Investigators found offers of construction, security, and other civilian jobs, financed trips, cultural visits to Russia, and contracts written in Russian signed before recruits were transferred to military units.

34 Families Have Asked for Help

Foreign Minister Héctor Huanca told El Deber the ministry has logged 34 requests for consular assistance from Bolivians linked to the conflict, and that diplomatic and consular efforts have been opened with authorities "of both countries" to locate, protect, and relocate citizens. Five Bolivians have been repatriated so far, Huanca said, adding that the ministry has helped families locate relatives and supported their release from service and return home, while keeping each case confidential as the ministry continues reviewing files.

Not Everyone Was Deceived the Same Way

El Deber reports that Bolivians who ended up in Russia didn't all get there the same way - some knew they were traveling to join an armed conflict, while others say they were given false job offers. The case became public in July, when relatives of two young men from Santa Cruz, identified only as Iván V. and José María S., held a symbolic wake after receiving reports the pair had died in combat; their remains have not been recovered or the deaths confirmed. In Rincón de Palometas, other families said relatives had left for work abroad and only later told them they were being sent to war. In early September, a young man who asked not to be named returned to Bolivia through Viru Viru airport with official government assistance, after traveling to Russia for a job offer and ending up as a combatant.

Russia Denies Involvement

Russia's embassy in Bolivia denied any link to the recruitment on July 14. A day later, Ambassador Dmitry Verchenko said, "We know nothing about this recruitment system," maintaining that Russian government agencies were not involved in recruiting Bolivian citizens. Russian embassies all around the world have been denying their involvement in predatory recruitment while it was going on in the countries of their jurisdiction.

Get Out Safely

Bolivians and other foreign nationals lured into Russia's armed forces under false job promises have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. Also see our FAQ on how to safely surrender to Ukrainian forces.