Forced Criminality2009
Russia RU
“In December 2005, 25 Ukrainian victims were found on a Russian fishing boat in the Sea of Japan. Recruiters lured men, ages 18 to 50, from poor fishing communities on the Black Sea with promises of good pay for work aboard industrial fishing vessels. Once at sea, however, the men were forced at gunpoint to work extremely long days without pay. They were deprived of sleep and physically and psychologically abused. They were deprived of food and water if they refused to work and sometimes consumed crab bait, consisting of raw fish, sea water, and melted ice water to survive. Although the vessel served as a perfect prison, their passports were confiscated. The victims were found and rescued when a Russian Coast Guard crew boarded the vessel to search for illegal poached crabs. They found the victims exhausted and half-starved, locked in the ship’s hold along with three tons of illegally poached crab.”
Forced Labor2010
Russia RU
Reports of conscripts , who are drafted for two years, being exploited for the financial gain of their commanding officers are rife. Soldiers are put to work on building sites, in fields and even in factories while people higher up the chain of command turn a blind eye for a cut of the profits.
Sex Trafficking2011
Russia RU
Igor Slearev and Avi Yanai were found by The Moscow District Military Court to be leaders of an international human trafficking ring. Lt. Col. Dmitry Strykanov of the foreign military intelligence directorate was also found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in a high security prison. Through deceit the criminal group drew women and smuggled them to Europe and the Middle East, where they were forced to engage in prostitution, according to the Prosecutor General's Office. Approximately one hundred and thirty women are victims in the case, among them citizens of Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Moldova and Russia. Most of the women were sold to Israel, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, Holland and the United Arab Emirates.