Cuban Foreign Affair Minister Bruno Rodriguez speaks during a press conference on the impact of the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba in the last year at the Foreign Affair Ministry in Havana on October 19, 2022. (Photo by YAMIL LAGE / AFP)
Cuba has announced the discovery of a human trafficking network responsible for coercing Cuban citizens into fighting for Russia in Ukraine. The Cuban government has revealed the existence of a human trafficking ring that operates from Russia and involves recruiting Cuban citizens, including those living in Russia and some from Cuba, to join military operations in Ukraine.
Cuban authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against those involved in this trafficking network and are taking steps to dismantle it. Bruno Rodriguez, Cuba’s Foreign Minister, emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing this issue “with the full force of the law.” He stated that Cuba is not a participant in the conflict in Ukraine and will take legal action against anyone involved in human trafficking aimed at recruiting Cuban citizens for mercenary purposes to use arms against any country.
Earlier this year, a Russian newspaper in Ryazan city had reported that several Cuban citizens had signed contracts with Russia’s armed forces and had subsequently been sent to fight in Ukraine, with the promise of receiving Russian citizenship in return. Cuba and Russia have been strengthening their ties in recent times, with high-level meetings between their leaders. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow at the end of the previous year, and in June, Cuban Defense Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera had discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu.
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SOURCE
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/21261