Kyrgyzstan Sends Note to Moscow Asking for Return of 21-Year-Old Lured to Russia With Job Offer

Kyrgyzstan's embassy in Moscow has sent a note to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking for the return of Elistan Toktogulov, a 21-year-old Kyrgyz citizen who, his relatives say, was lured to Russia with a job offer and ended up in a military unit, Azattyk, the Kyrgyz service of RFE/RL, reported on November 6. Diplomats acted after Azattyk published a story about him, according to the outlet.

An Instagram Job Ad

Elistan's brother, Bayastan Kushtarbek uulu, told Azattyk that Elistan found a job ad on Instagram offering work in Russia, with positions ranging from truck driver to security guard and a salary of up to 110,000 rubles, which is about $1,365. Elistan left Kyrgyzstan two weeks ago, the family says.

Relatives say he is now at a training ground in Russia's Voronezh region, where he is being prepared to fight in the war in Ukraine. They recorded a video appeal on November 3, asking the authorities to help bring him home.

What the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry Says It Did

Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the embassy in Moscow also sent official letters to the competent Russian authorities. In them, the embassy asked for a comprehensive check, for those involved in recruiting Elistan to be identified, and for them to be held accountable under Russian law.

The ministry advised Kyrgyz citizens to read employment contracts carefully before signing them.

A Safe Way Out

Kyrgyzstanis and other foreign nationals lured into Russia's armed forces have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. See our FAQ for recommendations for victims of Russian military recruitment and their families.