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'Dangerous path': India issues advisory for citizens after reports of recruitment in Russian forces
The fresh advisory for Indians travelling to Russia was issued by the external affairs ministry against the backdrop of the death of 51 Indians.
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India on Wednesday emphasised the dangers faced by Indian nationals recruited into Russia’s armed forces, including hiring by “non-public entities”, and said it is engaged with the Russian side to ensure the early discharge of citizens.
The fresh advisory for Indians travelling to Russia was issued by the external affairs ministry against the backdrop of the death of 51 Indians while serving with the Russian military on the frontlines of the conflict in Ukraine and New Delhi seeking the discharge of about two dozen Indians still with the Russian armed forces.
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The advisory noted that there were still reports of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian armed forces and said the government had “underlined the risks and dangers inherent in this course of action” on several occasions over the past two years and advised Indian citizens “to be cautious” in pursuing job opportunities abroad and not get lured by “job offers from unverified individuals”.
“It has also come to our notice that foreign nationals are being recruited to serve in the Russian armed forces by non-public entities including voluntary groups,” the advisory said. Indian nationals were advised to exercise due diligence before accepting job offers from agents not registered with the external affairs ministry.
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There have also been across numerous instances of individuals “willingly seeking out offers to join the Russian armed forces with an understanding that they would be able to avail concomitant monetary benefits, and later secure release by approaching the Indian government”, the advisory noted. The ministry made it clear that “this is a dangerous path” that is strongly discouraged by the government.
Referring to numerous instances of individuals approaching Indian authorities to “willingly give up their Indian citizenship, avail a Russian passport and then get recruited in Russian armed forces”, the advisory said some Indian nationals had already resorted to this course of action without consulting Indian authorities after being lured by temporary monetary benefits.
“It is advised that individuals should consider the gravity of such actions and understand the mortal dangers they are exposing themselves to. The government advises Indian nationals to refrain from taking such actions,” the advisory said.
The Indian government remains engaged with the Russian side to ensure the safety, well-being and early discharge of all Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces, the advisory said.
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Reports of Indian nationals being recruited into Russia's military began to emerge about two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There have been instances of Indians on tourist or student visas being lured into joining the Russian military with promises of large salaries and Russian citizenship. There were also instances of Indians being illegally recruited through unscrupulous recruitment agents.
The Central Bureau of Investigation is currently probing cases of fraudulent recruitment of Indians in the Russian military and has made some arrests.
Following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek in August, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said a total of 227 Indians had so far been recruited into the Russian military and 139 were discharged while 51 had died.
“We are in discussions with the Russian side to ensure that any cases that remain are discharged at the earliest so that we can return these people to their families,” he told a media briefing.
Ahead of Putin’s visit to India for the Brics Summit earlier this month, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow is taking steps to address the matter.
“This issue was brought to the agenda by the Indian side numerous times. And with great attentiveness, we approach this issue. Now the work is being done to make a list of those Indian citizens who are now on the battlefield and they will be sent back home as soon as they're [identified],” he said.
