Authorities in the Dominican Republic have confirmed 22 cases of citizens who became involved in the conflict in Ukraine, after traveling under the guise of civilian job offers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that family members have reported these cases, prompting calls for government action to bring the individuals back home. Since October 5, relatives have been gathering outside the National Congress in Santo Domingo to demand assistance.
Foreign Minister Viktor Bisono described the situation as extremely serious, noting that the number of reported cases had increased from 20 to 22 by October 9. The figures are based on complaints from families, as well as accounts from those who have returned from Russia and those who remain there.
Families Share Concerns
Families allege that the individuals accepted offers for technical or security jobs abroad, only to find themselves participating in military training once they arrived. Jacqueline Felix recounted that her 33-year-old son, Maikol Enrique Campusano Felix, was promised work as a mechanic with Panama mentioned as the destination. She revealed that he is now undergoing training in Russia and has reached out for help to return home, claiming that others may be sent to the front lines. This assertion has yet to be independently verified.
In another account, Trinidad Campusano shared that her 52-year-old brother Hector traveled for a welding job. He, too, has been conscripted into training despite having back and leg issues.
Government Response
The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been alerting citizens about potential risks associated with such job offers since September 24. Officials noted that while the men signed contracts upon arriving in Russia, the actual conditions of their employment did not reflect the promised terms.
Bisono engaged with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on this issue during the UN General Assembly on September 24. Following this, on October 6, Dominican officials presented materials regarding the 20 citizens to Russian Ambassador Sergey Seredin, who previously remarked that Russian law permits foreigners to join the military as volunteers.
The Dominican Foreign Ministry is providing consular assistance to the affected families, focusing on locating the individuals and facilitating their return. However, Bisono acknowledged that the government’s capacity to assist is limited due to the private nature of the contracts involved.
