New Delhi: India is pressing ‘hard’ with Russia for the early release of Indians stuck in Russia after being duped into fighting against Ukraine, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced Friday. At least 20 Indians have contacted the Indian embassy in Moscow for help.
“We are pressing very hard with the Russian authorities for early discharge of our people who are stuck there,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a weekly press briefing Friday.
Several Indian nationals were tricked into joining the Russian army by fraudulent travel agents on the promise of travelling to countries like Australia on tourist visas. Jaiswal did not provide details on how many have returned home safely.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after raids on travel agencies and visa consultancy firms in seven cities, is continuing its investigation into allegations that the companies tricked young Indians into going to the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war. Authorities are also investigating allegations of human trafficking.
Last week, in a video that went viral on social media, seven men from Punjab and Haryana claimed an agent deceived them into joining the Russian Army. The men, aged between 20 and 24 years, sought intervention from the Indian authorities to rescue them.
The MEA spokesperson also said that the mortal remains of two Indians who died fighting on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war will be repatriated to India by the end of this week.
“We have two people who passed away. The paperwork for their mortal remains has been done. The funeral agency we have engaged has handed over the bodies. We are in touch with the family,” Jaiswal said.
“We are also in touch with the Russian authorities. And hopefully, we will have the mortal remains in India by the end of this week,” he added.
(Edited by Mahdurita Goswami)
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