Russia ‘trafficking’ foreigners to Ukraine’s front line, Amnesty says – POLITICO

Russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals to fight in its war against Ukraine amounts to “human trafficking,” according to a report published Thursday by Amnesty International.

The human rights organization says Moscow has used “deceptive, coercive and exploitative practices” to recruit citizens from low-income countries such as Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone or Somalia. The tactics include “hollow promises of civilian or non-combat roles,” Amnesty’s Secretary-General Agnès Callamard said.

Amnesty’s report draws from testimonies and interviews of foreign citizens detained in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps. Some of them told the NGO that Russian authorities coerced them into joining the force when their residence permit in Russia was about to expire.