Kyrgyzstan sent a note to Russia: demanded the return of its citizen recruited into the army

Kyrgyzstan has sent a note to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding the return to his homeland of its citizen who was lured into the ranks of the Russian army in the war in Ukraine. 

 

According to reports, 21-year-old Elistan Togotulov from Talas region came across an advertisement on social networks in the autumn of 2026 placed by a compatriot living in Russia about a job. He was promised a salary of 110,000 rubles (approximately $1,340) per month for jobs such as security guard and driver in Russia.

 

However, after the young man arrived in Russia, he was forced through deception to sign a contract with the country's Ministry of Defense. After that, he was sent to a training ground in Voronezh region to prepare for combat operations in Ukraine.

 

Togotulov's relatives sent a video appeal on November 3 from the city of Manas, asking the government to help return him to his homeland. 

 

Official Bishkek called on the Russian side to release the young man, to investigate the circumstances of his recruitment into the army, and to identify those involved and hold them legally accountable.

 

At the same time, Kyrgyz officials warned of the danger of their citizens staying in Russia being lured into military service through deception.

 

The UN General Assembly's Independent Commission investigating crimes committed during the war in Ukraine stated in a special report published at the end of October that cases of recruitment into the Russian army through deception or coercion had been identified involving citizens of at least 29 countries.