Dominican families demand return of citizens recruited in Russia-Ukraine war

Families of Dominican citizens are protesting and demanding government intervention to bring home relatives who they claim were recruited into the Russian military under false pretenses. Protesters allege that individuals traveled to Russia expecting civilian work, such as mechanic roles or cultural visits, but were instead incorporated into the armed forces fighting in Ukraine.

Alexey Viktorovich Serdin, the Russian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, stated that the embassy has not received any formal, documented requests regarding these citizens. While the embassy has received some information via email, Serdin noted that the data is insufficient for a full investigation. He emphasized that to verify the status of these individuals, families must provide complete details, including full names, dates of birth, and photographs.

The ambassador expressed willingness to process cases and transmit information to the relevant authorities in Russia for verification once proper documentation is provided. He also clarified that there is no official agreement between the Dominican Republic and Russia regarding the deployment of Dominican citizens to the Russian military.