Peruvian man detained for recruiting civilians into Russia's war effort with false job offers
Peruvian authorities have arrested Poncho Pinto for allegedly luring people to Russia with promises of security-guard jobs, then sending them to the Ukrainian front.
Peruvian prosecutors allege that Poncho Pinto convinced several citizens to travel to Russia by advertising security-guard positions at a Russian support installation, assuring them they would not be sent to a war zone. After his arrest, a court ordered a 14-month pre-trial detention. Pinto is accused of moving four Peruvians to Russia in March, including Julio Salazar, who died on the Ukrainian front in April.
The scheme mirrors broader recruitment networks uncovered by Bolivia’s prosecutor’s office and the Colombian foreign ministry, which reports over 800 alerts for its nationals. Amnesty International’s recent report notes that recruiters have targeted men under 40 from economically struggling countries, promising lucrative work while funneling them into the conflict. The Russian embassy in Peru affirmed that any contracts were signed voluntarily, while the Russian embassy in Bogotá denied involvement with recruiters.
