Azerbaijani men lived in slavery in Poland for two years

Transnational gang engaged in exploitation of labor of foreign nationals has been detained in Poland. The gang consisted of Russian and Polish with three Azerbaijani men being their victims, Deputy Chief of Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons at Azerbaijani Interior Ministry, Police Colonel Imran Najafov said.

Polish law enforcement agencies have detained local citizens Conrad Kozlowski and R. Maslovsky, and one unidentified Russian citizen. The traffickers fraudulently took Azerbaijani citizens, professionals in tobacco business, from the country to Warsaw, promising them fabulous earnings. The names of the victims have not been disclosed due to ongoing investigation.

Under the "contract", Azerbaijani citizens were to arrange a production in a new tobacco factory in Poland. The men were brought to the Polish town of Suwalki and settled in the forest belt, which housed tobacco factory. However, as time passed, people worked, but did not received any money for their work.

Moreover, the exploiters seized passports of Azerbaijanis so that they couldnt leave. It is known that the citizens of Azerbaijan, together with other victims, were kept in slavery from December 2008 to March 2010, Najafov added.

On arrival in Azerbaijan, the slavery victims filed an application with Interior Ministry’s Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons which opened a criminal case on June 28 this year. At present, the case has been submitted to the General Directorate for Fighting Organized Crime of the Interior Ministry.

Health condition of victims was critical at a time of return to Azerbaijan. Their bodies were severely depleted. They received medical assistance and were paid monetary compensation. Moreover, victims were helped to find a job.

According to the Interior Ministry, the investigation is at the stage of correspondence with Polish law enforcement agencies. The investigation continues and the number of victims of the criminal gang is likely to increase.


/Vesti.az/