Govt rejects reports of Indians with Russian Army seeking help for discharge

[Photo : Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)]


India on Monday dismissed as inaccurate reports claiming that Indians with the Russian Army are seeking help for discharge, adding that “each and every case” has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities.

“We have seen some inaccurate reports in the media regarding Indians with the Russian army seeking help for discharge,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

“Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities, and those brought to the attention of the Ministry have been taken up with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. Several Indians have already been discharged as a result. Several Indians have already been discharged as a result,” the statement read.

The MEA said India remains committed, as a matter of top priority, to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army.

Last week, the MEA had urged Indians to exercise caution amid reports of Indian nationals signing up for support jobs with the Russian Army.

The latest statement came a day after reports that a 23-year-old Indian man from Gujarat, who was working as a ‘helper’ with the Russian Army, died in Russia. The family of Hamil Mangukiya from Surat received information about his death two days ago.

Mangukiya had applied for a job in Russia through an online advertisement and reached Moscow from Chennai. He was then recruited as an assistant in the Russian Army. More details about his death are still unclear.