In an unexpected turn of events, the Cuban government assured this Thursday that has nothing against a “legal participation” of its citizens in the Ukrainian war on the Russian side, but condemns "the illegal activities" of those detained for alleged human trafficking, because "they violated the law."
“We have nothing against the Cubans who want to sign a contract and legally participate in this operation with the Russian army.”. But we oppose illegality and these operations are not within the legal framework,” said Julio Garmendía, Cuban ambassador in Moscow, in statements collected by the Russian press.
“Scammers and criminals are everywhere,” Garmendía added.
"We are talking about bad people who, based on an issue as important as a military operation, such as the relations between our countries, want to make money, want to put bills in their pockets and engage in illegal activities," the diplomat concluded.
Cuban mercenaries in Ukraine
After the first revelations that confirmed the presence of Cuban mercenaries hired by the Russian Army, the Havana government remained silent until September 4, when they stated in a statement that they were working to dismantle a human trafficking network dedicated to transporting Cuban citizens to the conflict. as well as to recruit others who already resided in Russia.
The regime arrested almost twenty of people related to the recruitment of mercenaries.
A Russian military officer with the rank of senior officer confirmed in statements to The Moscow Times what There are many Cubans who are on the front as part of international battalions fighting in the Ukrainian war.
Days later, the deputy Alexey Chepa, first deputy chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma (Lower House of the Russian Federal Assembly, or Parliament), indicated in statements collected by the russian press what The reports about the recruitment of Cubans were false, and that they do not recruit anyone, but he hinted that Cubans can organize through social networks.
At the same time, information leaked to the digital media The Intercept revealed that the major 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.
The hackers provided evidence of the recruitment, training and transfer to Russia of entire units of about 199 Cubans to participate in the war.
Last week, an officer of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) who claimed to be in Russia, contradicted the Cuban regime's statements about a “human trafficking network,” and assured that The 90 Cubans under his command left the island with full knowledge of the authorities, something that several of the recruited citizens have insisted on.
Meanwhile, relatives in Cuba of some of the young Cubans recruited for the war They say they are desperate and not have information about their loved ones.
In the midst of the tide of events that have occurred in just over two weeks, it now remains to be seen the implications of the significant statements made by the Cuban government this Thursday.
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