Indonesia's Ambassador to Russia Warns Citizens Against Russian Recruitment

Jose Antonio Morato Tavares, Indonesia's ambassador to Russia and Belarus, warned Indonesian citizens against being lured by promises of high salaries to work in Russia, saying dozens are believed to be trapped in mercenary service there and struggling to get out, according to a report broadcast by Garuda TV on September 20. The report is available on YouTube: 

 

Families Are Reporting Missing Relatives

Tavares said the embassy in Moscow has received reports, both in person and by phone, from families about relatives suspected of having become "mercenaries". He described the recruitment method as running through social media, where high salaries are dangled before prospective workers, who are then routed through agents or intermediaries who handle their travel and departure arrangements.

Contracts in Russian, With No Translation

Tavares said some of the contracts involved are written in Russian with no Indonesian translation, which he said makes it difficult for recruits to understand the terms and consequences of what they're signing. Signing a contract that places someone in a war zone risks their life, he said, and once it's signed, "it will be very difficult... to get out of it." He added that it can also carry consequences for a person's Indonesian citizenship status under national law - a warning consistent with what we've reported before: Indonesia's foreign ministry has said citizens who join a foreign military without the president's permission risk losing their citizenship under the country's 2006 Citizenship Law, a warning issued after Ukrainian intelligence identified eight Indonesians recruited into Russia's forces.

Seeking Answers From Moscow

Tavares said the embassy is trying to verify the reports it has received and has sent a formal note to Russia's foreign ministry and other relevant agencies requesting verification of the information.

Use Official Channels, Tavares Says

Tavares urged Indonesians seeking work abroad to go through legal channels to secure job guarantees and legal protection, and said the public can check with the foreign ministry, the Indonesian embassy, or the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) to confirm whether a job offer is legitimate before accepting it.

Get Out Safely

Indonesians and other foreign nationals who signed contracts believing they were taking civilian work and ended up in Russia's armed forces have a safe option to leave through Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. Also see our FAQ on how to safely surrender to Ukrainian forces.