April 24, 2025

"Come Work in Ta... Tatarstan?"


"Come Work in Ta... Tatarstan?"
Martin Ku (far left) and Nicolas Grosman (front) with three “trainees” and another employee of the “Start” program. martinku98, Instagram.

Two former contestants from the Argentinian edition of the reality show Big Brother were accused of promoting a human trafficking scheme in Tatarstan, Russia. The influencers’ Instagram ad promised young Argentinian women professional development and employment in the region.

Martin Ku and Nicolas Grosman, podcasters and contestants of the 2023-2024 season of Argentinian Big Brother, surprised their followers when they uploaded a video of them playing in the snow. The influencers asked each other between laughs, “What are you doing here in Russia?”

Shortly afterward, Ku and Grosman made an announcement. Ku, holding luggage at an airport, asked, “Have you seen that there is an international employment program with a salary that ranges between 860 and 1000 USD? What are you waiting for? Let’s go together!” Then, Grosman said, “If you are a girl between 18 and 22 years old and want to work abroad, listen to this proposition that you will love.” 

The Big Brother alumni followed up with, “We are here in the heart of...” and joked about struggling to pronounce “Tatarstan.” The influencers did not name their specific location inside the republic. The video shows the alleged headquarters of a company called “Start.” According to Ku and Grosman, the enterprise offers 25,322 job openings in catering, hospitality, production operations, assembly, and motorized transport. They said “Start” has 38 residencies for its workers and has invested $4 million in new residencies. The men also claimed the company offered health insurance and Russian language classes. Ku and Grosman also claimed “Start” has ties to embassies and consulates around the world. 

Grosman and Ku proceeded to interview two young girls from Uganda and one from Nigeria about their experiences with the company and Russia. Despite claiming to be an employment agency, all the interviewees allegedly working for the company appeared in plaid schoolgirl uniforms. 

The Argentine internet quickly accused the podcasters of promoting a human trafficking scheme. The ad disappeared from Instagram not long after it was published. In a statement, Ku and Grosman said Instagram had deleted their ad. The influencers denied being part of the company or knowing of any “irregularities.”

The Instagram account promoted by Ku and Grosman, start_program_latam, is not verified. While the Argentinian influencers' pages sport over 500,000 followers each, the page for the Russian company only has 601 followers. Just like in Ku and Grosman’s interviews, the page shows its “trainees” in schoolgirl outfits.

Due to the scandal, Ku was fired from the largest TV channel in Argentina, Telefe. Anti-cult activist Pablo Salum has filed a lawsuit against both ex-Big Brother participants for promoting a sex trafficking ring. On April 19, Argentine media revealed that the company Ku and Grosman promoted is linked to the Alabuga industrial complex. Alabuga Star, the facility owner, assembles drones used in Russia’s ongoing War on Ukraine. Workers in the factory have reported being on 15-hour-long shifts with minimal breaks. Minors are also suspected to be among the facility’s workers.

You can watch their ad here:

 

You Might Also Like

Finn-ancial Crisis?
  • April 14, 2025

Finn-ancial Crisis?

The Finnish parliament has passed a law forbidding Russians from owning real estate in the country.
Log Your Blog, or Else
  • April 06, 2025

Log Your Blog, or Else

Russian influencers could face consequences if they fail to register with the state.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
The Samovar Murders

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955