Russia accuses Ukraine of recruiting Tajiks

The Ukrainian diplomatic mission is recruiting mercenaries in Tajikistan for the international legion with the aim of participating in combat actions against Russia.

This was stated by the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Nikolai Patrushev, at the XIX annual meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana.

According to him, “the Ukrainian embassy in Dushanbe is conducting recruitment work, attracting mercenaries who wish to join the international legion formed by the Kyiv authorities to engage in combat actions against Russia.”

He did not provide further details.

The Ukrainian embassy in Tajikistan has not yet commented on these accusations from the head of the Russian Security Council.

While Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev accuses Ukraine of recruiting Tajiks, Russian authorities are promising Russian citizenship and monetary rewards to attract labor migrants and foreigners into the Russian army. So far, dozens of Tajiks have died in Ukraine fighting on the side of Russia.

According to the Criminal Code of Tajikistan, recruitment, training, financing of mercenaries, and their use in armed conflict or military actions are punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to twelve years. Participation of a mercenary in armed conflict or military actions is punishable by imprisonment for a term of twelve to twenty years.