MEA urges Russia to release all Indians working in its military following death of Kerala man

New Delhi: India reiterated its demand for the early release of all its citizens still working for the armed forces of Russia in the battlegrounds in Ukraine after another one of them was recently killed.

The Embassy of India in Moscow is in touch with the government of the Russian Federation for early repatriation of the mortal remains of Binil Babu to his hometown at Thrissur in Kerala, said Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

New Delhi also asked Moscow for the early repatriation of Jain Kurien, who was also working for the Russian Army and was injured on the battlefields of Ukraine. Kurien too hails from Thrissur in Kerala.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Lok Sabha on August 9, 2024, that 91 Indians had been recruited into the Russian Army, and eight had been killed so far.

Almost six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took it up with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Moscow, the death of Binil Babu brought the focus back on the issue of the citizens of India being recruited as members of the ‘support staff’ of the former Soviet Union nation’s armed forces. Putin had promised Modi during a meeting in Moscow on July 9, 2024, that all citizens of India recruited to work for the Russian Army would be released and repatriated.

After the death of Binil Babu, India once again strongly took up the issue with the government of Russia, both in New Delhi and Moscow.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had in early March 2024 conducted raids in 15 locations in seven cities and busted a human trafficking racket that had recruited youths from India for jobs in Russia and sent them to the former Soviet Union nation, only to be forced to work as members of the support staff of the Russian Army in the battlegrounds of Ukraine.

Several of them later got in touch with the Embassy of India in Moscow and even posted videos online seeking help from New Delhi to safely return home.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our Embassy in Moscow is in touch with the families, and all possible assistance is being rendered. We are working with the Russian authorities for early transportation of the mortal remains to India. We have also sought the early discharge and repatriation to India of the injured person,” Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the MEA, stated.

“The matter has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities in Moscow as well as with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi today. We have also reiterated our demand for the early discharge of the remaining Indian nationals,” he added.

Kirti Vardan Singh, the union Minister of State for External Affairs, informed the Lok Sabha on December 13 that only 19 Indian nationals remained in the Russian armed forces. “(The) government has requested the Russian authorities concerned to provide an update on the whereabouts of the remaining Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces and also ensure their safety, wellbeing and early discharge,” he told the lower House of Parliament.