The Cuban government announced this Monday the dismantling of a Russian-based human trafficking network that recruited Cubans \u2014 both on the island and in that country \u2014 to participate as soldiers in the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
A statement from the island\u2019s Foreign Ministry reported that the Ministry of the Interior \u201cdetected and is working on the neutralization and dismantling of a human trafficking network that operates from Russia to incorporate Cuban citizens living there, and even some in Cuba.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCuba is not part of the armed conflict in Ukraine,\u201d stressed the Foreign Ministry, which ensures that Cuba \u201cis acting and will act energetically\u201d against whoever \u201cparticipates in any form of trafficking in persons for recruitment or mercenary purposes so that Cuban citizens use weapons against any country.\u201d<\/p>\n
In this sense, it refers that the authorities of the island \u201chave neutralized attempts of this nature and criminal proceedings have been initiated against people involved in these activities.\u201d The statement does not specify which people or organizations are behind this network.<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodr\u00edguez stressed that \u201cthe force of the law is being acted against these claims,\u201d in a message on his Twitter account.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrunoRguezP\/status\/1698852627344232673?t=Iv2RBmwedAMo1YO3OTi-Nw&s=19<\/p>\n
He also maintains that Cuba has a \u201cfirm and clear historical position against the use of mercenaries\u201d and plays \u201can active role in the United Nations in repudiation of this practice,\u201d while mentioning that it has been the author of several of the initiatives approved in that forum.<\/p>\n
He also \u201ccategorically\u201d rejects and attributes to \u201cthe enemies of Cuba\u201d the \u201cdistorted\u201d information that \u201cseeks to tarnish the image of the country and present it as an accomplice to these actions.\u201d<\/p>\n
In exchange for money and citizenship<\/p>\n
Last May a local Russian newspaper published the details of how foreigners, including Cubans, were being recruited to join the Russian troops.<\/p>\n
Since 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order making it easier for foreigners to enlist in the Russian army by contract. Previously the legislation was stricter and one had to serve no less than five years to obtain citizenship.<\/p>\n
In addition to the monetary component, many Cubans who are in Russia, without other possibilities of regularization, are attracted by the promise that after only one year of service they will be able to avail themselves of Russian citizenship, both they and their direct family members.<\/p>\n
EFE\/OnCuba<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Foreign Ministry said that Cuba will act energetically against \u201ctrafficking in persons for recruitment or mercenary purposes so that Cuban citizens use weapons against any country.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3134,"featured_media":288128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13902],"tags":[18381,34517],"ppma_author":[33546],"class_list":["post-288125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cuba","tag-cuba-and-russia","tag-war-in-ukraine"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n