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Iraqi Man Sentenced to Life for Trafficking Recruits to Fight for Russia in Ukraine
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An Iraqi man has been sentenced to life in prison for human trafficking after recruiting Iraqis to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, court officials confirmed, according to the Associated Press on September 29.
The Najaf Criminal Court convicted Risan Falah Kamel for organizing groups of fighters and sending them abroad in exchange for financial compensation. The verdict was based on Iraq’s anti-human trafficking law, which targets the exploitation of individuals in foreign conflicts.
Iraqi judicial and security sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that Kamel was responsible for recruiting fighters to join Russian forces. The officials emphasized that such actions violate Iraqi law by sending citizens to participate in foreign armed conflicts.
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Foreign fighters have been involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine since the invasion in 2022. Earlier this year, Ukrainian officials reported that a significant number of Chinese nationals were fighting for Russia, and they claimed to have gathered intelligence on more than 150 mercenaries recruited by Moscow via social media. China has denied these allegations.
US and South Korean officials have also confirmed that North Korea has sent thousands of troops and ammunition to aid Russia on the battlefield, further complicating the international scope of the war.
Earlier, it was reported that more than a thousand Cubans have joined Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, and the total number of recruits could reach 20,000.
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