According to the MEA, every case brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities. Similarly, cases brought to the attention of the Ministry have been addressed with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. This effort has resulted in several Indians being discharged, with the MEA reaffirming its commitment to actively pursuing all relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army.
Earlier, the foreign ministry urged Indian citizens to exercise caution amid reports of Indian nationals signing up for support jobs with the Russian army. The MEA emphasized that the Indian embassy has taken up the matter with the Russian authorities for the early discharge of these individuals. MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaishwal stated, “We urge all Indian nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict.”
This comes after All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi had earlier urged the MEA to rescue the Indians.
Furthermore, the Ministry’s actions are in response to a job fraud scam where Indian youth were promised jobs as helpers or in other non-combat roles in the Russian army. However, upon arrival in Russia, they were drafted into a private militia force to fight Ukrainian forces in the battlefield. One such victim is Md Sufiyan (22) from Narayanpet, whose case has garnered attention.
Reports indicate that a 22-year-old youth from Telangana and three others from Karnataka’s Kalaburagi were promised jobs in Russia but were later forced to join the Russian army. Mohammed Sufiyan, from Narayanpet district in Telangana, pleaded for help in a video sent to his family, stating, “Please save us. We are victims of a hi-tech fraud.” Sufiyan, dressed in army uniform, revealed that they were being forced to fight in Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine against their will. They were sent to Russia in December 2023 by recruiters who promised them jobs as army security helpers.
Officials have begun enquiring into each case of Indian nationals affected by the scam. Recently, officials visited Sufiyan’s family to gather details about his recruitment and subsequent deployment. Sufiyan’s brother, Syed Salman, expressed concern over the lack of clarity on the time-frame for their rescue. He emphasized the urgency of the matter and called for no procedural delays in bringing back his brother and others trapped in the danger zone.
Sufiyan, who was working in Dubai, fell victim to the job racketeers promising lucrative salaries to work in Russia. However, instead of the promised roles, he and three others were sent to the border to fight upon reaching Moscow in December 2023.
(With inputs from TOI)
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