A RUSSIAN national was on Monday apprehended at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport while leaving with a local man he had allegedly recruited to participate in the Ukraine-Russia (UKRUS) war.
Leonid Koftov is being charged with contravening section 3(1)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Trafficking in Persons Act and Labour Act.
Koftov was yesterday remanded in custody while awaiting bail consideration.
Allegations are that on May 29 this year, police details received information that the alleged victim, who is unidentified for security reasons, was being recruited to go to Russia by Koftov, who was working in connivance with an accomplice only known as Constantine.
Constantine, who is still at large, is believed to be in Russia.
Police received information that Koftov was staying in Mandara, Harare, after arriving in the country on May 28 through the RGM International Airport on a 30-day holiday visa.
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The court heard that after arriving in Zimbabwe, Koftov recruited the victim and scheduled him to depart the country on June 1, after processing a Russian E-visa, air travel tickets and hotel booking reservations for the recruit.
It is alleged that on Monday this week, Koftov hired a taxi to the victim’s place of residence in Budiriro, where he took him to the airport to facilitate his departure to Russia aboard a flight scheduled to leave Zimbabwe in the afternoon.
The State alleges that on the same day, detectives made a follow-up and intercepted Koftov and the recruit at the airport, where he was found in possession of the victim’s Russian E-visa, air travel tickets and hotel booking.
Koftov was immediately arrested.
The government recently confirmed that the number of Zimbabweans killed fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war has risen to 18.
The victims were recruited through deceptive schemes such as promises of lucrative civilian jobs abroad but instead were forced into active combat, often with little to no training.
The government says it is working with Russian authorities to bring survivors home and warned citizens against unregulated employment agencies advertising on social media.