The investigation, conducted by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, focuses on recruitment linked to the Alabuga Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tatarstan. While the programme has been in operation since at least 2023, it is only now drawing international scrutiny.

“They’re told they’ll be doing basic factory work, catering, or cleaning,” said Julia Stanyard, a senior analyst at the Initiative. “What they’re not told is that the factory work involves assembling drones used by the Russian military in the ongoing war in Ukraine.”

Recruitment efforts appear to target women between the ages of 18 and 22, primarily through online channels. Social media campaigns and influencers advertise opportunities to study and work in Russia. Promotional materials often feature young women in school uniforms, reinforcing the illusion of an academic experience.

But the reality is far from it. According to testimonies collected from former participants and local students at the adjacent Alabuga Politekh College, conditions inside the facility are deeply exploitative. Workers report long hours, exposure to harmful chemicals, racial discrimination, and constant surveillance. Some say they were not even informed of the nature of their tasks until after arriving on site.

Although the Alabuga SEZ is run by a private company, it is owned by a government department in the Russian republic of Tatarstan. The report also notes that the programme has expanded its recruitment beyond Africa to Latin America and parts of South and Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

--ChannelAfrica--