Forced Detentions for Military Contracts in Russia
Human rights groups reported a series of forced detentions across six Russian regions between August 10 and 18, where men were coerced into signing military contracts with the Ministry of Defense. Victims were taken from the streets, workplaces, or after being detained for minor offenses, often under threats or deception.
Consensus
- From August 10 to 18, 14 reports were received by the 'Idite lesom' project about men being detained and forced to sign military contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
- Reports came from six regions: Novorossiysk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Birobidzhan, Ulan-Ude, Izhevsk, and Omsk.
- In some cases, police were involved in the detentions.
- Men were detained for minor infractions such as drinking alcohol in unauthorized places.
- After detention, individuals were pressured or threatened into signing contracts.
- In some cases, men were taken to military medical examinations or sent to military units.
- In some cases, documents such as psychiatric disqualification notes were removed from military records.
- In some cases, new documents were issued to avoid returning home for paperwork.
- The 'Idite lesom' project advised families to quickly locate detained individuals and document the circumstances of their detention.
Points of divergence
- In Novorossiysk, the man was taken to a police station where he was threatened with drug possession; after signing the contract, he was transported through Krasnodar and Rostov to a military unit. — tg_radiosvoboda
- In Novorossiysk, the same details as in tg_radiosvoboda are reported, including the route through Krasnodar and Rostov. — tg_sibrealii
- In Novorossiysk, same details as in tg_radiosvoboda and tg_sibrealii are reported. — tg_severrealii
- In Novorossiysk, it was reported that the man was beaten and had drugs allegedly planted on him; he was given a choice between a criminal case with up to 20 years in prison or signing the contract. — meduza
- In Novorossiysk, a man was beaten and threatened with a criminal case; he was given the choice between prison or signing the contract; after signing, he was taken through Krasnodar and Rostov. — novaya_eu
- In Omsk, one man was taken from work and held; his contract was signed by others; another man was stopped near a store by civilians, taken for a medical exam, and later removed from the city, though he claimed he did not sign the contract. — meduza
- In Omsk, one man was removed from work and held; another was stopped near a store and taken for a medical exam; both were taken away despite not signing the contract. — novaya_eu
- In Udmurtia, a man was removed from psychiatric care and sent to the occupied Donetsk region; his military ID had the psychiatric note removed. — novaya_eu
- In Udmurtia, the man was removed from psychiatric care and sent to Donetsk; his military ID had the psychiatric disqualification note removed. — tg_radiosvoboda
- In Udmurtia, same as above: man removed from care and sent to Donetsk. — tg_sibrealii
- In Udmurtia, same details as above. — tg_severrealii
- A 62-year-old man with health issues and a bulletproof vest was detained, had documents issued quickly, and was sent to the annexed Crimea. — novaya_eu
Coverage (5 sources)
- Human rights defenders report on a series of violent detentions for sending to war in Ukraine — Радио Свобода
- Human rights defenders report on a series of violent detentions for sending to war in Ukraine — Сибирь.Реалии
- Human rights defenders report on a series of violent detentions for sending to war in Ukraine — Север.Реалии
- Project 'Go Through the Forest' Reports on Violent Detentions and Coercion of Men into Contracts in Six Regions of Russia. 14 Requests Received in Nine Days — Meduza
- In nine days, rights defenders recorded 14 cases of forcible detention and coercion to sign a contract — Новая газета Европа