Russia is committed to finding "the earliest possible solution" on the problem of Indians being tricked into joining her army and fighting in the war in Ukraine. This was stated by a high-ranking Ruhr diplomat, quoted by "Reuters".
This was Moscow's first comment on the issue.
The demand for the release of Indians who joined the Russian army under false promises was a key topic in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week.
An Indian official accompanying Modi said Russia had promised their early release.
"The Russian army does not need Indians, especially those who are very few. They in no way change the situation on the battlefield," said Roman Babushkin, charge d'affaires of the Russian Embassy in India.
In his words, although most Indians fighting in the war were there for "commercial purposes", some were tricked into joining by agents. He added that India and Russia are in close coordination to find a solution to the problem.
When asked about the Russia investigation, Babushkin noted that it should be conducted in Russia and India, as the agents involved are mostly located in India.
Last week, India said that about 30 to 40 Indians, lured to Russia by the promise of lucrative jobs and educational opportunities, are now believed to be fighting in the Russian army, and at least four have been killed in the conflict.
India has detained at least four people believed to be part of a nationwide human trafficking ring. Ten Indian nationals have been returned from Russia so far.
New Delhi and Moscow have had close ties since the days of the Soviet Union, and India has recently been buying record quantities of Russian oil at discounted prices after the West imposed sanctions on Russian crude after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022.< /p>
India has not condemned Russia for the conflict, instead calling for peace through dialogue and diplomacy.
During his visit, however, Modi used emotional language to deliver a tacit rebuke to Putin, telling him that the death of innocent children was painful and horrific - a day after the deadly attack on a children's hospital in Kiev.
Russia has said, without providing evidence, that a Ukrainian anti-missile system hit the hospital.