Five relatives accused of forced labor in Russia's Stavropol region

Five relatives have been charged in a forced-labor case in Russia's Stavropol region. All have been remanded in custody, the regional Investigative Committee said.

Investigators allege that from May 2025 to September 2026 the defendants held four men and a woman in Zerkalny after offering them work. Instead of receiving the promised pay, the victims were forced to carry out household tasks.

Investigators say one man's passport was taken, while the victims' movements and contact with neighbors were restricted. Violence and threats were allegedly used to keep them there, including after attempts to leave.

In September, one defendant allegedly offered an FSB officer 500 thousand rubles to end an inquiry. The officer refused and the man was detained. The case also includes an allegation of attempted bribery on a large scale.