The Cuban regime claimed to have detained 17 people related tothe recruitment of Cuban mercenaries in the service of Russia.
Barely 72 hours after the first statements by the Cuban Foreign Ministry on this issue, authorities from the Ministry of the Interior announced the arrest of at least 17 people in relation to a human trafficking network that operates in Russia and Cuba.
After the first revelations that confirmed the presence of Cuban mercenaries hired by the Russian Army, Havana remained silent until this Monday, when through a statement the regime claimed to be working indismantle a human trafficking network dedicated to transferring Cuban citizens to the conflict, as well as recruiting others who already resided in Russia.
This Thursday, the programReasons for Cuba, led by the renowned Counterintelligence spokesperson,Humberto Lopez, was in charge of presenting the official version of the supposed investigation carried out in record time by theMinisterio del Interior cubano (MININT).
“As a result of the investigations carried out by the bodies of the Ministry of the Interior regarding these events,To date, 17 people have been arrested., of which one of them is the internal organizer of these activities, supported by two other people equally residing in the country,” said ColonelCésar Rodríguez Rodríguez.
According to the Head of Department in the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the MININT, these two detained assistants were dedicated to searching for and contacting Cubans interested in traveling to Russia as mercenaries.
“Once recruited, these people met with the organizer who sent the data to Russia and from there they sent them the ticket, at no cost, for them to emigrate,” said the Lieutenant Colonel.Frank Hernandez Estrada, Head of Department of the Specialized Body of the Criminal DGI of the MININT.
Among those recruited there are many with criminal records and antisocial behavior, said Colonel Rodríguez.
“The facts being investigated could include a crime of ‘mercenarism,’” he explained for his part.José Luis Reyes Blanco, Chief Prosecutor of the Directorate of Criminal Proceedings, indicating that it contemplatesSerious penalties that can reach up to 30 years of deprivation of liberty, perpetual deprivation of liberty and also the death penalty.
According to the official portalCubadebate, another 14 people confessed to having voluntarily joined the operation in exchange for Russian residency and financial compensation.
In addition to mercenarism, Attorney General's Office officials said they are considering possible charges that could include human trafficking and hostile acts in a foreign state.
The investigations and maneuvers of the Cuban regime continue and it is expected that more information will be revealed in the coming days about this alleged human trafficking network, as well as its leaders and links with the governments of Russia and Cuba.
An article published this Wednesday in the digital mediumThe Intercept revealed thatMajor of the Russian Army, Anton Valentinovich Perevozchikov He had in his possession 122 scanned passports of Cubans recruited at the headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces in the city of Tula.
Until now, these types of Russian military contracts aimed at foreigners had been kept relatively secret, but this leak reveals the magnitude of the operation.The Intercept is a digital magazine that originally served as a platform to report on the revelations made by the American security analystEdward Snowden.
The hack also reveals that at least five Cubans entered Russia through Belarus, a key ally of Moscow, on July 1. This coincides with the agreements and public statements of senior Cuban and Belarusian military officials oftrain Cuban troops in their territory, made a month before the arrival of these Cuban citizens to Russia.
Hackers handed over to Ukrainian agencyInformNapalm evidence of the recruitment, training and transfer to Russia of entire units ofabout 199 Cubans to participate in the attack against Ukraine.At the moment it is unknown what decision the Russian and Cuban authorities will make in relation to these citizens..
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