Cuba has arrested 17 folks in reference to what its authorities says is a community recruiting its residents to combat in Russia’s warfare in Ukraine, in response to a Cuban authorities official.
The head of Cuba’s prison investigation division, César Rodriguez, stated late Thursday on Canal Caribe, a state-run news channel, that one of many folks arrested was accountable for organizing efforts to recruit inside Cuba.
This week, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that the federal government had begun prison proceedings towards a “human trafficking network” that was recruiting folks to combat in Ukraine. The ministry has not stated how many individuals have been affected, or whether or not any had traveled to Russia or Ukraine.
The accusations haven’t been independently verified. Russia has not commented on the problem.
None of the folks arrested have been named. The recruiters have been in search of Cuban residents excited about army motion, particularly these with “antisocial behavior” and a prison document, Mr. Rodriguez stated.
Cuba is “not part of the war in Ukraine,” the international ministry’s assertion stated.
Cuba has been an in depth ally of Russia because the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The nation’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia have pledged to strengthen their nations’ relationship.
U.S. officers have stated that Russia has struggled to draw recruits for its warfare effort. Russia’s protection minister, Sergei Okay. Shoigu, stated late final yr that the Russian Army wanted to extend from 1.15 million service members to 1.5 million.
The occasions being investigated may represent against the law of mercenarism, José Luis Reyes, the top of Cuba’s prison prosecution division, stated on the tv program, including that punishment may embrace 30 years to life in jail or the dying penalty.
Valeriya Safronova contributed reporting.
Source: www.nytimes.com