Ryan Routh Facebook Page Shows He Recruited Afghan Soldiers with PASSPORTS to Fight in Ukraine
The facebook page of second would-be assassin of former President and current Presidential candidate Donald Trump, was scrubbed soon after Ryan Routh was apprehended. Unfortunately, for those who did so, the internet – as it is said – is forever. In the months before the assassination attempt this past Sunday, Routh was recruiting English-speaking Afghan soldiers to get passports and travel and join the fight in Ukraine.
In one post from December 29, 2023, Routh’s post includes writings in Arabic and English. In the post, he is asking for people to send him their passport on whatsapp if they want to go fight in Ukraine. Repeatedly, Routh demands that he not be called. He only wants texts and passports sent to him in the app. This indicates that he had gotten to the point that he was trafficking in a lot of passports, though it’s difficult to tell how many.
In another post, Routh states plainly that “if you don’t have a passport, you can’t go to Ukraine and fight. Happy Holidays.”
At one point, Routh appears to be working as a broker with direct contact with officials inside Ukraine. In a post from November 3, 2023, Routh writes, “Ukraine has agreed to start with 100 soldiers and work up to 3000 or more but considering you have to send me a full file with a copy inside (of) your passport, a CV in English and all of your military certificates, we do not want photos of you…”
Who is “we”? In yet another post, Routh states, “Ukraine is asking us to assemble all the 3,000 soldiers who have passports. We also need to know your specialty so we can assign specific tasks to each soldier… to fit into this battalion.”
Perhaps the answer to the question about who Routh was working with can be found in yet another post, in which he appeals directly to “AFGHAN SOLDIERS – The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine is working very hard to finance this project and has asked the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for a detailed plan on how the money will be spent… they need a reasonable suggestion. Give us a few more weeks for some progress.”
Q&A
- How can authorities and organizations better monitor and prevent the misuse of digital platforms for illicit activities such as passport trafficking or recruitment for conflict zones?
- What steps can be taken to ensure that online recruitment for illegal activities is quickly identified and addressed by both social media companies and law enforcement agencies?
- In cases where individuals are found to be involved in trafficking passports or facilitating illegal recruitment, what are the typical legal consequences they face, and how can they be effectively prosecuted?
- What advice would you give to individuals who may unknowingly become involved in illegal activities through social media or online platforms, and how can they safeguard themselves from such risks?
- How can governments and international organizations improve collaboration to prevent the misuse of passports and other official documents in conflict zones or illegal operations?
- What role does the international community play in monitoring and controlling the flow of passports and other documentation to prevent them from being used in unauthorized ways?
- Given the increasing use of digital platforms for illegal activities, how should policies and regulations evolve to address these emerging threats and protect both individuals and national security?
ARMAND BIO
Mr. Armand Arton is a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a Global Citizen.
His extensive background as a trusted advisor to governments around the world has been instrumental in attracting foreign direct investments through residency and citizenship investment programs and empowering high net-worth investors in securing global opportunities to better their future.
Armand is the Founder of Arton Group of companies operating across the realms of finance, technology, publishing and real estate including Arton Capital and the Passport Index – the world’s leading global mobility intelligence platform.
His global vision is emphasized through the founding of the Global Citizen Forum – a Canadian non-profit organization driven by a community of global leaders and visionaries unlocking the potential of global citizenship.
Mr. Arton is married and has three kids. He sits on the board of numerous business, professional and philanthropic organizations around the world.
Armand in US media
- The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 so far | CNN
- Rush for golden visas after Portugal’s decision to end much-criticised scheme | Reuters
- United Arab Emirates is ranked as having the best passport in the world (cnbc.com)
- Why ‘Golden’ Passports and Visas Shouldn’t Be Abolished, but Made Better – Business Insider
Passport Index Coverage
- UK passport strength falls in global rankings – and could be set to tumble even further – Mirror Online
- These Powerful Passports Have Best Quality Of Life, Per New Data (forbes.com)
- The Passport Index’s ‘World Openness Score’ hits an all-time high and ranks most and least powerful | Fortune
- UAE Has the World’s Best Passport in a List Dominated by Europe – Bloomberg
Armand Arton int. coverage
- Ireland scraps scheme offering residency in exchange for investment | Financial Times (archive.ph)
- Half of Britain’s millionaires are considering leaving after Labour election win (cityam.com)
47% of U.K. Millionaires More Likely to Leave Country After Election (robbreport.com)
CONTACT: Todd Baumann of Special Guests Publicity
512-966-0983 / Bookings@SpecialGuests.com
