Slavery of Malawian girls at Shahed drone production facility discovered in Alabuga, Russia«

Malawian girls enslaved in the production of «shaheds» in Russia's Alabuga

Malawi's government and parliament have launched official investigation following reports that Malawian girls are victims of human trafficking and got into the of the Russian technology park Alabuga«, where they were forced to work on the production of Shahed drones.

Deception under the guise of scholarships

According to local media, among the hundreds of women who have been lured to Russia are Malawian students, who were promised educational grants and employment. Instead, they found themselves in a slave-like conditions, forced to work for assembling attack drones, used in the war against Ukraine.

«We cannot remain silent when it comes to the lives of our citizens. Those who organised their trip under the guise of academic opportunities must be found and punished,» said the Malawian MP.

The Alabuga Start programme is a cover for forced labour

International media and human rights activists have repeatedly reported that Alabuga Start programme« has become a tool Human trafficking and exploitation of foreigners.

Women from Africa and Asia who were lured by the promise of training and high earnings, found themselves in military production without rights and freedom of movement.

According to investigations, the In 2022, about 350 women from over 40 countries were recruited in Alabuga, and the management of the technology park plans to expand the number to 8500.

International reaction

Following the publication of the investigations, a number of African states, including Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, began establish the location of its citizens and cooperate with embassies and Interpol for possible repatriation of the victims.

Organisation. Human Rights Watch called for a independent international investigation Alabuga's activities and demand that Russia release women held in labour slavery.

Context.

The Alabuga Technopark in Tatarstan is one of the key production centres for Shahed drones, that Russia receives using Iranian technology. Earlier, investigative journalists reported on massive violations of labour rights, and about engaging minors and foreign workers to hazardous production processes.