NEW DELHI: The delay in discharge of Indian nationals serving in Russian Army is threatening to cause discord in Moscow-New Delhi ties with Russian embassy here saying in an official statement issued Saturday that these men “voluntarily contracted” for military service in Russia, even as it committed to working for their early release.
The statement followed remarks by foreign minister S Jaishankar in LS in which he said the problem was Russia insisting that Indian nationals had entered into contracts for service with Russian Army.Jaishankar also said India does not subscribe to the Russian position as many were misled into joining the army.
While expressing deep condolences to the families of the eight Indians who were killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the embassy said that agencies concerned in both countries were working in close coordination for early identification and discharge of Indian nationals who “voluntarily contracted for military service in Russia”. “All contractual obligations and due compensation payments will be fulfilled in full measure,” it said.
As per the statement, since April 2024, Russian defence ministry had stopped admission of citizens of a number of foreign countries, including India, to military service in the Russian armed forces.
The embassy went on to state that Russian govt had at no point of time been engaged in any public or obscure campaigns, more so in fraudulent schemes to recruit Indian nationals for military service in Russia.
Recalling that CBI is probing the case, and evidence had surfaced against many traffickers, Jaishankar had said in his remarks that in many cases, there were reasons to indicate that Indians were misled, that they were told that they were going for other job and that they were then deployed with Russian army.
He had revealed in LS that 91 Indians had been recruited so far, out of which eight had died and 14 others were either discharged or managed to return with Indian assistance. A total of 69 Indians are still awaiting release. PM Narendra Modi had also raised the issue with President Putin in Moscow last month.
The statement followed remarks by foreign minister S Jaishankar in LS in which he said the problem was Russia insisting that Indian nationals had entered into contracts for service with Russian Army.Jaishankar also said India does not subscribe to the Russian position as many were misled into joining the army.
While expressing deep condolences to the families of the eight Indians who were killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the embassy said that agencies concerned in both countries were working in close coordination for early identification and discharge of Indian nationals who “voluntarily contracted for military service in Russia”. “All contractual obligations and due compensation payments will be fulfilled in full measure,” it said.
As per the statement, since April 2024, Russian defence ministry had stopped admission of citizens of a number of foreign countries, including India, to military service in the Russian armed forces.
The embassy went on to state that Russian govt had at no point of time been engaged in any public or obscure campaigns, more so in fraudulent schemes to recruit Indian nationals for military service in Russia.
Recalling that CBI is probing the case, and evidence had surfaced against many traffickers, Jaishankar had said in his remarks that in many cases, there were reasons to indicate that Indians were misled, that they were told that they were going for other job and that they were then deployed with Russian army.
He had revealed in LS that 91 Indians had been recruited so far, out of which eight had died and 14 others were either discharged or managed to return with Indian assistance. A total of 69 Indians are still awaiting release. PM Narendra Modi had also raised the issue with President Putin in Moscow last month.