Peru's Prosecutor's Office Opens 22 Cases Over Russia Recruitment, Warns Against "Fake Job Offers"

Peru's Public Prosecutor's Office briefed relatives of citizens allegedly recruited to travel to Russia through false job offers on the progress of 22 open investigations, according to Peru's state news agency, Andina. The September 11 meeting was led by senior prosecutor Rocío Gala Gálvez, national coordinator of the Specialized Prosecutor's Offices for Human Trafficking Crimes.

22 Cases, More Than 300 Peruvians

The 22 case files cover the alleged recruitment of more than 300 Peruvian citizens. Andina reported that 21 of the files are being investigated by the Specialized Prosecutor's Offices for Human Trafficking Crimes, while a single remaining file - covering 202 alleged victims on its own - is being handled by a Specialized Prosecutor's Office Against Organized Crime. The cases span six judicial districts: North Lima, Central Lima, La Libertad, Callao, Huánuco, and Cusco, and are being coordinated with Peru's specialized human-trafficking police unit.

"Don't Fall for These Scams"

Gala Gálvez, Senior Prosecutor and National Coordinator of the Specialized Prosecutor's Offices for Human Trafficking Crimes in Peru, used the meeting to warn Peruvians against the kind of offer that drew the alleged victims in the first place:

I make a general appeal to everyone, young and old, not to be deceived by these communications about jobs in Russia with high incomes, or by promises of assistance in obtaining documentation or paying for travel. Don't fall for these scams and deceptions, because in doing so you will avoid becoming potential victims of human trafficking, as in this unfortunate case that brings us together now.

A Commitment to Keep Families Informed

Prosecutors Irene Mercado Zavala and Luisa Quispe Asmat walked relatives - among them Luis Martín Tito Chávez, Cristina Isabel Ríos Huamán, María Esther Pachas Torres, and Ohana Araceli Sotomayor Contreras - through the investigative steps taken so far. Andina reported that the office and the families agreed to keep exchanging information as the cases proceed, with the Prosecutor's Office committing to continue investigating and to keep families informed throughout the process.

A Safe Way Out

Some of the Peruvians who took one of these "job offers" have ended up not in the civilian work they were promised, but in Russia's armed forces. Peruvians and other foreign nationals who signed a contract with the Russian military and want out have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. Alsoo see our FAQ on how to safely surrender to Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Source: Andina