Cuban authorities have arrested 17 folks in reference to what they described as a community to recruit Cuban nationals to battle for Russia in Ukraine.
The pinnacle of prison investigations for Cuba’s Inside Ministry, César Rodriguez, mentioned late Thursday on state media that no less than three of the 17 folks arrested are a part of recruitment efforts contained in the island nation.
The official did not determine the alleged members of the community however mentioned they’d earlier prison information. Some households began talking up concerning the case, and no less than one mom mentioned that her son was promised a job in development in Russia.
Cuba’s Overseas Affairs Ministry mentioned on Monday that the federal government had detected a community working from Russia to recruit Cuban residents dwelling each in Russia and in Cuba to battle in Ukraine, and it mentioned the authorities had been working “to neutralize and dismantle” the community, nevertheless it gave no particulars.
“Cuba just isn’t a part of the conflict in Ukraine,” the ministry mentioned in a information launch.
Cuba and Russia are political allies, and Cubans don’t require a visa to journey to Russia. Many go there to check or to work.
Prosecutor José Luis Reyes informed state TV that suspects are being investigated for crimes, together with being a mercenary or recruiting mercenaries, and will face sentences of as much as 30 years or life in jail, and even the demise penalty.
‘They had been all deceived’
Marilin Vinent, 60, mentioned Friday that her son, Dannys Castillo, 27, is without doubt one of the Cubans recruited in Russia.
In her residence in Havana, she mentioned that her son and different Cubans travelled to Russia on the finish of July after being promised a development job. “They had been all deceived,” she mentioned.
Vinent confirmed reporters images of her son on her cellphone, together with a few of him wearing army fatigues.
She mentioned that her son informed her he had accepted the supply to go to Russia as a result of he wished to assist his household financially, because the island is struggling an financial disaster, with folks dealing with shortages of some merchandise.
“I do not know if my son is alive. We do not know something,” she mentioned. “What I would love is to speak to him.”