Zimbabwe Arrests Man Over Alleged Russian Army Recruitment

Zimbabwean authorities have arrested and charged a 36-year-old man accused of recruiting citizens to join the Russian army.

Counter-terrorism police said the suspect was arrested while accompanying a recruit to a bus terminal in Harare for a journey through South Africa to Russia.

Investigators said they recovered Russian electronic visas and hotel booking confirmations linked to five recruits who were allegedly being prepared for deployment to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Police also identified a Russian national known only as “Roman” as a suspected accomplice. Authorities said he remains at large as investigations continue.

The case comes amid increased scrutiny of reports that African nationals are being recruited into the conflict. Earlier this year, Zimbabwean authorities confirmed that 15 of the country’s citizens had died while fighting on foreign battlefields.

Ukraine has also said it identified more than 1,780 fighters from 36 African countries serving in Russian forces. The circumstances surrounding the recruitment of those individuals remain the subject of international attention.

SOURCE: AFP