Russia: Recruitment of migrants into drone manufacturing at Alabuga SEZ fulfils "several conditions" of human trafficking, find report; incl. cos. non-responses
A new report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime published in May 2025 explores human rights violations experienced by migrant workers manufacturing drones at Alabuga Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Tatarstan region of Russia. The report builds on previous reporting of abuses at the Alabuga SEZ.
The Alabuga Special Economic Zone ... plays a major role in Russia’s war economy: thousands of attack and reconnaissance drones are produced in the SEZ for use by the Russian military. Alabuga SEZ is the subject of this investigative report, as it straddles this intersection where criminality, business and the state reportedly meet.Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, "WHO IS MAKING RUSSIA'S DRONES? THE MIGRANT WOMEN EXPLOITED FOR RUSSIA’S WAR ECONOMY"
The report alleges Alabuga SEZ has been staffing drone production facilities using underage children from Alabuga Polytech and migrant women workers recruited through the international “Alabuga Start” programme.
The migrant women allegedly have been subjected to a range of labour rights violations while working at the drone production facilities, including not being informed they would be working in weapons production prior to arrival, long hours, racism, harassment, surveillance, and safety violations. The report finds the Alabuga Start programme “fulfils several conditions for a case of human trafficking”.
The report also highlights ‘close ties’ between Alabuga SEZ and the Russian state, saying drones manufactured there are “central” to Russia’s arsenal for its attacks on Ukraine.
The report names several companies with links to Alabuga SEZ, including Sahara Thunder, an Iranian company allegedly supplying drone parts to the SEZ, and Albatross, which is allegedly “involved in drone production” at the SEZ and is described as one of the “anchor recruiters” of the Alabuga Start programme. The report also names Generation Trading, a Dubai-based financial intermediary used in Sahara Thunder’s drone supply deal to the SEZ.
The report explores the role of recruitment agencies in facilitating the recruitment of migrant workers to the SEZ. Among the recruiters named is Sri Lankan company Geo Ventures Travel and Consultancy Services. The report also highlights the use of social media to advertise the programme, including on X, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, Instagram and VKontakte. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre previously invited Meta, Telegram and TikTok to respond to the use of their platforms for the Alabuga Start programme. Responses from Meta and TikTok can be read here.
In June, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Alabuga SEZ, Albatross Geo Ventures Travel and Consultancy Services, X, and VKontakte to respond to the report. The companies did not respond.
The Resource Centre was not able to contact Sahara Thunder or Generation Trading to invite a response to the report; if a response is received in future this page will be updated accordingly.
Following the publication of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, various media outlets reported on the continued recruitment of migrant workers into the scheme, including allegations of labour rights abuse by a South Sudanese worker published in a BBC article in November.