The Russian Ministry of Defense issued Order Number 625 on September 18, 2023, modifying official models of military contracts. This document, recently found by the N Investiga team, reveals the conditions that a Dominican accepted upon joining the Russian ranks to fight in Ukraine. The contract, written in Russian, establishes a one-year duration and obliges the recruit to comply with military norms, swear allegiance, and defend the Russian Federation. The space allocated for the debt to be reimbursed in case of early retirement appears blank, generating doubts about the exact amount that could be owed.
The trap of the labor promise
Jesús Campusano, a 52-year-old blacksmith and resident of Bajos de Haina, accepted a civil job offer published on Facebook. On July 27, he left for Russia with the expectation of a civilian mission. His sister, Cristina Campusano, reported that they later informed him that the contract was for a year and would be automatically renewed. According to sources cited in the report, some contracts are signed once the recruits arrive in the country, and in those circumstances, they could be forced to sign them.
Testimonies of threats and coercion
Orquídea Figuereo reported that her son and other Dominicans had to sign under threats of aggression. Lawyer Juan José Eusebio, specialized in National Defense and Security, explained that early retirement is only contemplated for justified reasons, such as injuries that prevent continuing to fight or, in the worst case, death. According to Russian legislation, desertion can carry penalties of five to twenty years in prison, depending on the circumstances.
The diplomatic response of the Dominican Republic
The families of the enlisted Dominicans submitted files to the Russian Embassy in the Dominican Republic, requesting the return of their relatives. Isabel Peguero, one of the mothers who visited the consulate, stated that when they deposited the documents, they were not received by the ambassador and that later he would have said that he was unaware of the presence of Dominicans in Russia.
More than 200 cases in the shadows
Upon reaching public light, the balance presented by N Investiga shows that more than 200 Dominicans are under uncertainty. The family of each one of them still does not know the fate or situation of their loved ones. The lack of information and the apparent unawareness of the Russian authorities in the Embassy exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
Credits: n.com.do
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