Iraqi man sentenced to life for recruiting locals to fight for Russia in Ukraine
Iraqi man sentenced to life for recruiting locals into Russian army (photo: Getty Images)
In Iraq, a man was sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking after recruiting Iraqis to join the Russian army for the war against Ukraine, reports Associated Press.
The Criminal Court in Najaf stated that the convicted man "formed groups and sent them to fight in foreign countries in exchange for financial compensation." The sentence was handed down under Iraq's anti-human trafficking law.
An Iraqi judicial official and a senior security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the man, identified as Risan Falah Kamel, was convicted of recruiting fighters and sending them to fight on Russia's side.
Russia's recruitment of foreign fighters for the war
Earlier, the media reported that Cuban citizens have been traveling to Russia in large numbers to join its war against Ukraine, despite the Cuban government's efforts to stop this process.
The Kremlin has also recruited citizens of India to fight in the war, thereby avoiding the need for further mobilization in Russia.
British intelligence has reported that Russia has stepped up the recruitment of prisoners in Africa.
Overall, Moscow has already recruited tens of thousands of mercenaries from Africa and Asia.
