Families of Dominicans recruited by Russia demand their return

Santo Domingo.- Relatives of Dominicans recruited by Russia amid the war in Ukraine met with Russian Ambassador Alexey Victorovich Serendin in Santo Domingo on Monday to demand information about their loved ones and assistance in bringing them home.

The families had planned a prayer vigil outside the Russian Embassy, but canceled the demonstration after being received by the ambassador. They allege that dozens of Dominicans traveled to Russia after signing contracts for jobs without knowing they would be sent to fight in Ukraine.

Beatriz Melo, whose relative Juan Ramirez is among those recruited, said he has been in Russia for more than two months and recently told the family he was preparing for war. She claimed he was misled about the purpose of his trip and described difficult conditions, including cold, hunger and mistreatment.

Carlos Sánchez Díaz, coordinator of the Dominican Committee for Human Rights in the Southern Region, estimated that around 150 Dominicans are fighting for Russia, with more than 50 reportedly seeking to return home. He called for their contractual conditions and legal status to be reviewed under international and Dominican law.

Serendin told the families that the embassy remains open to them and said Russia’s Defense Ministry clearly presents the terms of its contracts. However, he acknowledged that the circumstances under which Dominicans were recruited to travel to Russia are a separate issue.

The ambassador also said the embassy remains in contact with the Dominican Foreign Ministry, which has sent a delegation to Russia to address the situation. Last month, the Dominican government hired legal counsel in Russia to assess the status of its citizens and facilitated the return of four Dominicans who refused to sign military contracts after arriving in the country.