Govt: ‘In Talks With Russian Authorities for Early Discharge’ of Indians 'Forced' to Fight in Russia

'The Indian Embassy has regularly taken up this matter with the relevant Russian authorities for their early discharge. We urge all Indian nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The Wire Staff

govt ‘in talks with russian authorities for early discharge’ of indians forced to fight in russia

Indian Embassy in Moscow. Photo: Public domain

New Delhi: Responding to media reports about Indian nationals being forced to fight at the Russian border, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday (February 23) said that it is aware of the matter and has taken it up with the relevant Russian authorities.

The Russian Army has reportedly recruited over 100 Indians as security helpers over the past year according to a Russian defence official. Some of these recruits had come forward alleging mistreatment. Their passports were confiscated and the men were allegedly being forced to fight alongside Russian forces despite assurances that they wouldn't be sent to the war zone.

"We are aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian army. The Indian Embassy has regularly taken up this matter with the relevant Russian authorities for their early discharge. We urge all Indian nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The victims, who had shared harrowing accounts of their ordeal, had also claimed that their pleas for help from the Indian Embassy in Moscow had gone unheard.

This article went live on February twenty-third, two thousand twenty four, at forty-nine minutes past three in the afternoon.

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