Indians' Release From Russian Army Delayed Due To Contract Issues

The release of nearly 70 Indians serving in the Russian Army is delayed as their military service contracts have not been annulled.

The release of nearly 70 Indians serving in the Russian Army has been delayed as Moscow authorities have not yet annulled their military service contracts, according to sources familiar with the situation.

This issue has gained prominence following the deaths of at least nine Indians on the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine.

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Diplomatic Efforts and Delays

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed this matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Moscow in July. Since then, diplomatic channels in both New Delhi and Moscow have been actively addressing the issue. However, the primary holdup is attributed to Russia's defence ministry not yet issuing a decree to cancel these contracts.

"The Russian defence ministry has to issue a decree annulling the contracts and that hasn't happened as yet," one source stated. Another source suggested that the delay might be due to concerns about how such an annulment could affect contracts signed by nationals from other countries.

Recruitment and Repatriation

According to recent government information, 91 Indians were recruited into the Russian Army, with 15 already released and repatriated to India. Currently, 68 Indians are awaiting release from their military duties in Russia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted this problem while speaking in Lok Sabha on August 9.

"The problem...is that the Russian authorities maintain that these Indian nationals entered into contracts for service with the Russian Army. We are not necessarily subscribing to that," Jaishankar said. He also mentioned that Modi received assurances from Putin regarding the discharge and release of any Indian national serving in the Russian Army.

Recruitment Stopped and Condolences Expressed

A day after Jaishankar's statement, the Russian embassy in New Delhi announced that recruitment of Indian nationals into Russia's armed forces had ceased in April this year. The embassy assured that efforts are underway for the early discharge of Indians who "voluntarily contracted for military service." They also expressed condolences to the families of those who died and committed to fulfilling all contractual obligations and compensation payments.

Misleading Recruitment Practices

The Indian side has indicated that many Indians recruited into the Russian military were "misled" or deceived by unscrupulous recruitment agents. In response, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a criminal case against 19 individuals and entities involved in recruiting Indians and has made several arrests.

This ongoing situation highlights significant diplomatic efforts and legal actions taken by India to ensure the safe return of its citizens from military service abroad.