After an ambush on a Russian National Guard convoy in Chechnya left one officer dead and another injured, Russian police have ramped up recruitment raids in nearby Chechen towns.
The raids have led to widespread detentions and mounting pressure on local men to join Russian forces on the Ukrainian front, according to the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center.
Widespread Raids and Detentions
Days after the October 24 ambush near the village of Petropavlovskaya, Chechnya, Russian National Guard and local police began sweeping neighboring towns in a bid to enlist more Chechen men.
According to Memorial, police went house to house, verifying residents’ IDs and vehicle registrations, with a special focus on “eligible” men who could be sent to the frontlines.
During these raids, men were reportedly given an ultimatum: enlist in the war or face criminal charges.
In some police stations, detained men had their phones searched for any sign of banned Telegram channels.
Local activists reported over 20 detainees at one station, with hundreds more across Chechnya rounded up for questioning.
Forced Recruitment
Families of those detained have remained silent, fearing repercussions, while freed detainees reportedly hesitate to seek help from human rights organizations.
In Argun, Chechnya, reports emerged of police conducting additional rounds of raids and identifying “potential targets” for enlistment.
One raid led to the detention of 42-year-old Rizvan Batyrov, a man with a disability.
Initially resisting arrest, Batyrov was eventually taken by force after a larger police unit surrounded his home. His family has since been unable to gather information about his condition or whereabouts.
Increased Pressure to Mobilize
This surge in forced recruitment efforts comes after Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov stated he intended to deploy up to 84,000 Chechen men to bolster Russian ranks in Ukraine.
The new “sweeps” appear to be part of that effort, forcing Chechens, often unwillingly, to the frontlines.
