Ukrainian soldiers drive a tank during a military exercise at an unspecified location.
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India is seeking the release of its nationals who were “deceived” into serving in the Russian army, an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday in a rare dissent from Moscow.
“Several Indian nationals were tricked into working with the Russian army. We have been lobbying the Russian government strongly for the early release of such internationals,” spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said. “A case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents.”
He appealed to Indian nationals “not to be influenced by offers from agents for support jobs in the Russian army. This poses danger and threat to life,” stressing that New Delhi “remains committed to the early release of our support nationals.” Staff with the Russian Army and eventual return home.
Late Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation of India said it had raided several “large human trafficking networks” that “targeted gullible youth” and offered lucrative jobs abroad. The CBI identified at least “35 cases” where Indian citizens were sent abroad as a result of these operations.
“These traffickers operated as an organized network and lured Indian nationals for high-paying jobs in Russia through social media channels like YouTube etc and also through their local contacts/agents,” the CBI said in a statement.
After their recruitment, Indian nationals were “trained in combat roles and deployed against their will at frontline bases in the Russo-Ukrainian war zone, putting their lives in grave danger.”
“It was determined that some of these victims were also seriously injured in the war zone,” the agency said.
This comes amid a domestic labor crisis that has led Indian nationals to seek work abroad.
India’s unemployment rate rose to 8% in February from 6.8% in January as the country’s economic growth significantly outpaces job creation, according to the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), an independent think tank.
war of attrition
Moscow and Kiev have been engaged in a war of attrition on Ukrainian territory for more than two years, with Russia introducing strict conscription laws and raising the maximum age for conscription. Volunteer foreign fighters have joined both sides of the conflict.
Indian and international news agencies reported on stranded Indian citizens fighting for the Russian army. Reuters said on Thursday that Mohammed Asfan from the Indian city of Hyderabad died while fighting in the Ukraine war after traveling to Russia to work as an army “helper.”
“We learned of the tragic death of an Indian citizen, Shri Mohammed Asfan. We are in contact with the family and the Russian authorities. The mission will make efforts to send his mortal remains to India,” the Indian embassy in Russia said on social media on March 6. It was not specified whether Asfan died fighting for Russia or on Ukrainian territory.
CNBC has reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
A rare crack
The request to release Indian nationals fighting for Russia brings New Delhi into a rare confrontation with Moscow.
India has defied the US and adopted a strictly neutral position following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and abstained from voting on several resolutions tabled at the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council condemning Moscow.
India also provides a rare market for Russian crude by sea as it has no EU and G7 buyers since the imposition of sanctions banning its purchase at the end of 2022.
The two countries also share close ties as partners in the BRICS economic coalition of emerging economies.
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2024-03-08 15:32:40
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