India
oi-Swastika Sruti
The Government of India has issued an advisory asking Indian nationals travelling to Russia to exercise caution over job offers that could lead to recruitment in the Russian armed forces.
The Indian government has issued an advisory warning nationals in Russia to beware of job offers that could lead to recruitment into the Russian armed forces, urging caution with unverified agents and citing efforts for citizen safety.
The government said it has continued to receive reports of Indian citizens being recruited into the Russian military. It warned Indians against accepting offers from unverified individuals or agents, particularly those promising financial benefits.
Government Warns Against Russian Military Recruitment
The advisory pointed out that the government has constantly been cautioning about the dangers of joining the Russian armed forces and has asked the Indian nationals to be cautious while seeking employment options overseas.
The government further noted that there were instances of Indians deliberately accepting offers to join the Russian armed forces, with a belief that they would be able to contact Indian officials for assistance regarding their repatriation.
This approach was highly discouraged by the government, which stated that joining the Russian army was a very risky proposition.
Indians Warned Against Giving Up Citizenship
The advisory also highlighted cases in which Indian nationals reportedly approached authorities seeking to give up their Indian citizenship and obtain a Russian passport, after which they could be recruited into the Russian armed forces.
The government said some individuals had already taken such steps without consulting Indian authorities, reportedly after being attracted by temporary financial benefits.
Indian citizens have been advised to carefully consider the consequences of such decisions and the risks involved before taking any such action.
Caution Over Unverified Job Offers
The government also warned Indians about recruitment through non-public entities, including voluntary groups, which may offer opportunities to foreign nationals to serve in the Russian armed forces.
Indian citizens have been advised to carry out proper verification before accepting job offers from agents or organisations that are not registered with the Ministry of External Affairs.
The advisory urged people not to be lured by unverified employment offers, particularly when the nature of the work or the recruiting organisation is unclear.
Government In Contact With Russia
The Government of India stated that it is still in contact with the Russian authorities concerning the Indians who have joined the Russian military.
As per the advisory, the priority of India has been the safety and security of the Indian nationals and the need for their early discharge from the Russian military.
The Indian government reissued the warning amid news of Indians joining the Russian army.
