russia recruits imprisoned women from Central Asia for war against Ukraine
According to media reports and human rights organizations, russian law enforcement agencies are offering female migrants from Central Asian countries held in russian prisons “release” in exchange for deployment to the combat zone. They are reportedly being recruited as auxiliary personnel, including medics, cooks, and laundry workers.
▫️ Documented cases indicate that female labor migrants are prosecuted on fabricated charges and subsequently forced to sign contracts with the russian ministry of defense. Relatives of detainees report that such practices are systematic.
This practice indicates a severe shortage of human resources in the russian army and the kremlin’s readiness to exploit the most vulnerable population groups. The use of imprisoned women bears clear signs of forced mobilization.
The Center has previously reported on russia’s transnational system for recruiting foreign nationals, which has involved citizens of 128 countries worldwide, with a notable concentration of recruits from Central Asian states.
