Two people rescued from slavery near Voronezh

Two people were rescued from slavery near Voronezh. This was reported by the volunteer organization «Alternativa» (the Alternativa movement).

According to volunteers, in early August, Svetlana and Anatoly from Pereslavl-Zalessky (Yaroslavl Oblast) agreed to a side job — they needed to pick apples at the «Central Black Earth Fruit and Berry Company» in Novousmansky District. However, they did not know where they were being taken until the last moment.

It turned out that they had to live in barracks with 50 people, and work without salary. For diligent work, people were only given cigarettes and alcohol. Those who tried to escape were brought back and beaten.

«The couple shared that their relatives had filed a missing persons report, and then a local police officer arrived on the scene. He offered to drive them to Usman, from where they would make their own way. They explained that they had no money, and Anatoly didn»t even have documents, that they had been working for several months without pay, even though they came to earn money. That was the end of the assistance. The people were asked to sign a document, and later it turned out that this was how they were removed from the missing persons list,« write the volunteers from Alternativa.

Svetlana said that after the police officer«s visit, the boss promised to send them home. But then plans changed and the people were simply redirected to other work.

Then the relatives turned to volunteers. They came to the location together with police officers and took Svetlana and Anatoly. Now they are on their way home.

The «Central Black Earth Fruit and Berry Company» is the largest apple producer in Voronezh Oblast. Recently, VTB Bank sued the company for 142 million rubles (approximately $1.6 million at current rates) over credit debts. The fruit and berry company itself is in the process of liquidation.

We are clarifying this information with the regional police department.