A human trafficking ring that coerced Cubans to fight for Russia in Ukraine has been uncovered, the Caribbean island’s government says.
The Cuban authorities say they are working to “neutralise and dismantle” the network.
The statement from the country’s foreign ministry gave few details but said the trafficking ring was operating in both Cuba and Russia.
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“The Ministry of the Interior… is working on the neutralisation and dismantling of a human trafficking network that operates from Russia to incorporate Cuban citizens living there, and even some from Cuba, into the military forces participating in war operations in Ukraine,” the Cuban government statement said.
In late May, a Russian newspaper in the city of Ryazan reported that several Cuban citizens had signed contracts with Russia’s armed forces and had been shipped to Ukraine in return for Russian citizenship.
It was not clear if the Cuban foreign ministry statement was associated with the Ryazan report.
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But Cuba’s government said it had already begun prosecuting cases in which its citizens had been coerced into fighting in Ukraine.
“Attempts of this nature have been neutralized and criminal proceedings have been initiated against people involved in these activities,” the Monday statement read.
Under President Joe Biden, the US has eased some sanctions on Cuba but maintained its Cold War-era embargo on the island.
