The Russian Consulate General in Erbil has denied allegations that Russia's diplomatic missions in Iraq—or elsewhere in the world—were involved in recruiting foreign nationals to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
This denial was issued during an exclusive interview with The New Arab, following controversy over remarks by Russia's ambassador in Baghdad, Elbrus Kutrashev. These remarks prompted scrutiny and accusations that the Russian Embassy was encouraging Iraqis to join the conflict.
TNA published a report on 29 October highlighting the controversy. Before publication, a media inquiry was sent to the Russian Embassy in Baghdad, but no response was received. Earlier that week, however, an official from the Russian Consulate General in Erbil contacted TNA on behalf of the embassy to provide clarification, following the controversy over Kutrashev’s remarks.
"Russian diplomatic missions, including the consulate in Erbil and the embassy in Baghdad, as well as any other Russian embassy worldwide, do not recruit foreigners to serve in the Russian army because regulations prohibit this," the official stated, requesting anonymity. "Foreigners may serve in the Russian army only if they reside permanently in Russia and speak Russian. All accusations that Russian diplomatic missions are recruiting thousands of Iraqis are rumours intended to damage Russia's image in Iraqi society."
The official further stated that the consulate had no information regarding any Iraqis who had joined or been killed in the conflict.
In a separate interview with Rudaw, Ambassador Kutrashev acknowledged that the Russian Embassy in Baghdad had issued visas to Iraqi families seeking to repatriate the bodies of relatives killed in the conflict.
"I have already discussed this issue at a press conference in Baghdad," Kutrashev said. "Such cases exist, but they are individual and not widespread as some suggest. We have issued visas for relatives of those killed, perhaps three or four times. That is the reality, and it demonstrates that some were present, but the exact number is unknown."
Kutrashev also asserted that there was "no noticeable foreign presence" fighting on Russia's side in Ukraine, in contrast to Ukrainian forces, where he stated that many foreigners had been identified.
"Russian television occasionally broadcasts reports of a volunteer from Latin America, but such cases are rare. I thank Iraqi citizens for their support of Russia. While I regret any injuries or deaths, I stress: we did not recruit them; they volunteered."
In an interview published by Shafaq News on 17 October, Kutrashev stated that "thousands of Iraqis are ready to join the Russian army if allowed." These comments drew criticism from Iraqi lawmakers and civil society groups, who subsequently called for an official investigation into the possible existence of recruitment networks or local intermediaries operating within Iraq.
The situation first emerged in early September when activists shared clips said to allegedly show Iraqis participating in military training in Russia or present on the battlefield. In response, Iraq's embassy in Moscow advised citizens to be cautious regarding promises of work or money. Subsequently, a Baghdad court sentenced a man to life imprisonment for recruiting Iraqis to participate in Russia's war—reflecting the government's concern over recruitment networks.
The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR), a local watchdog, described the ambassador's statement as "concerning" and urged authorities to clarify whether any Iraqis had been recruited or had travelled to Russia to participate in the conflict.