'Dangerous path': India issues advisory for citizens after reports of recruitment in Russian forces

The Government of India has issued an advisory cautioning Indian nationals against joining the Russian armed forces, amid continued reports of Indians being recruited into the Russian military.

The government said it has, over the past two years, repeatedly highlighted the risks involved and advised Indian citizens to be cautious while pursuing employment opportunities abroad. It urged them not to get “lured by any job offers from unverified individuals”.

This comes after families of four men from Telangana have sought Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s intervention to secure their safe return after they allegedly ended up performing military duties at the warfront in Russia.

The four men — Bhukya Ravinder, Sirushu Ashok, Megavath Prakash and Mohammed Afzal Khan — are from Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts. Their family members submitted a representation at the ‘CM Prajavani’ (people's grievance redressal programme), seeking immediate government intervention, news agency PTI reported.

Mandha Bheem Reddy, Vice Chairman of the Telangana Government's NRI Advisory Committee, received the representation on Wednesday and told PTI that it had been forwarded to senior state government officials. The matter will be taken up with the Ministry of External Affairs, he said.

The advisory issued by MEA also said there have been “numerous instances” of individuals willingly seeking offers to join the Russian armed forces in the belief that they could receive monetary benefits and later secure their release by approaching the Indian Government.

“It is reiterated that this is a dangerous path and is strongly discouraged by the Government,” it said.

Advisory on Russian military recruitment

The government said it has also come across cases in which individuals approached Indian authorities to voluntarily give up their Indian citizenship, obtain a Russian passport and then join the Russian armed forces.

“Some have already done so without consulting Indian authorities, having been lured by temporary monetary benefits,” the advisory said.

The government urged Indians to consider “the gravity of such actions” and understand “the mortal dangers they are exposing themselves to”. It advised Indian nationals to refrain from taking such actions.

Caution over unregistered job agents

The advisory said foreign nationals are also being recruited into the Russian armed forces by non-public entities, including voluntary groups.

Indian nationals have been advised to exercise due diligence before accepting job offers from such agents, particularly those “which are not registered with the Ministry of External Affairs”.

Four men allegedly misled over jobs

Reportedly, the four travelled to Russia after agents promised them employment. They initially took up grass-cutting and gardening-related work.

The families said the men worked for around five months but were paid for only about two months. They later became unemployed.

They were subsequently allegedly induced to take up Russian military-related duties with promises of citizenship and monetary benefits, the family members claimed.

Families seek MEA intervention

The families have urged the chief minister to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Embassy of India in Moscow and the concerned Russian authorities to verify the men's location.

They have also sought their release from military-related work and safe repatriation to Telangana.