India has called on Russia to repatriate Indian citizens who were recruited into the Russian army and recently lost their lives in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra confirmed the Indian government's serious approach to the issue, emphasizing efforts to coordinate with Russian authorities for the return of the deceased's remains.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated on Tuesday night that it is actively engaged with Russian authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the two Indian nationals who lost their lives while fighting in Ukraine. Earlier this year, two other Indian nationals had also died in similar circumstances.
India has refrained from voting against Russia at the United Nations or criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. India considers Russia a longstanding ally from the Cold War era, with bilateral cooperation spanning defense, oil, nuclear energy, and space exploration.
Previously, India had disclosed ongoing discussions with Russia regarding the return of its citizens who had been deceived into joining the Russian army. The country's federal investigation agency revealed it had dismantled a human trafficking network responsible for luring individuals to Russia under false pretenses of job opportunities, with at least 35 Indians sent through agents.
Similarly, Sri Lanka recently engaged in talks with Russia to address the issue of Sri Lankan nationals fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, following reports of at least 16 individuals missing in action. The Sri Lankan government asserted that its citizens were misled into traveling to Russia with promises of lucrative salaries and benefits, including Russian citizenship.
In January, Nepal also requested Russia to repatriate hundreds of Nepali nationals who had been recruited to fight against Ukraine. At least 14 Nepali nationals have lost their lives in the conflict.
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