Spanish
According to accounts from those affected, at least seven Hondurans traveled to the European country after being contacted through social media with job offers in areas such as agriculture, construction, and plumbing. However, upon arrival at their destination, they claim that the conditions changed drastically.
Five of them managed to escape recently and are currently in safekeeping, while they seek support from the Honduran authorities to return to the country. The citizens were identified as Yimi Alexander Baca, Marvin Sair Baca, Olvin David Banegas, Ricardo Alfredo Banegas and Luis Alonso Dubón.
According to the testimony of Olvin David Banegas, one of the survivors, the group received full facilities to travel, including the financing of passports, airline tickets, and other expenses, which initially generated trust in the supposed job offer. The journey included multiple international stops before arriving in Moscow, in a route that, according to the account, passed through Panama, Bogota, Paris, Istanbul and finally Russia.We recommend reading:Ukraine and Israel continue to accuse each other of "stolen grain" by Russia
However, upon arriving in the country, Hondurans claim they were stripped of their documents and kept under surveillance in a building, with restrictions on their mobility and limited access to food.
“They took our passports and we were under constant surveillance,” reported Banegas, who also stated that the working conditions initially offered never materialized. However, those affected claim they were pressured to join the Russian armed forces amid the conflict with Ukraine, a situation they described as an attempt at forced recruitment.“We were no longer coming as workers… the only thing they wanted was for us to join the Army,” he stated. According to testimonies, the Hondurans were stripped of their passports and kept under surveillance. (PHOTO: El Heraldo)
Two Hondurans are still detained in Russia
Of the seven Hondurans, two remain detained, according to the group's testimony. These are José Sánchez and Óscar Armando Arjijo, who were unable to escape due to physical and age limitations. The case has raised alarms about possible international deceptive recruitment networks targeting Latin American citizens, especially in contexts of economic crisis where the search for employment abroad becomes a necessity. The affected parties indicated that the initial contact was made through WhatsApp, by people who identified themselves as intermediaries of a supposed international employment agency. Among the names mentioned are aliases such as “Kraken”, “Mustafa” and “Alexandra”. Migration and security experts warn that this type of scheme may be linked to networks that exploit the vulnerability of people seeking opportunities, offering them attractive conditions that later change upon arrival at their destination. Furthermore, the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine adds a higher level of risk, as foreign citizens may be exposed to situations of coercion or incorporation into non-voluntary activities. As of yet, the full veracity of the events has not been officially confirmed by Honduran or international authorities; however, the testimonies have generated concern and calls for a more in-depth investigation. The group of Hondurans has requested direct support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Honduras and other institutions to facilitate their safe return, as well as to intervene in the situation of their compatriots who are still in Russia. They also called on the population to not trust job offers spread on social media that promise to cover all travel expenses without verifiable guarantees. The case has also opened a debate on the need to strengthen information and protection mechanisms for migrants, in a scenario where job opportunities abroad can turn into high-risk situations.
