At least 85 Indians who were tricked into being recruited into the Russian army and sent to fight in the war with Ukraine have been released after Delhi made a request to Moscow, India's foreign ministry said on Monday ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan, writes the BBC.
External Affairs Minister Vikram Misri told a briefing in New Delhi that around 20 Indians are yet to be dismissed from the Russian army. However, he said, efforts are being made to release them as soon as possible.
"Our embassy officials are in close contact with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense regarding the issue of Indians who have been illegally or otherwise mobilized into the Russian army. This issue was discussed at the highest level, including by Prime Minister Modi with President Putin,", Misri said, as quoted by IndiaTV.
"About 85 people returned from Russia, we also returned the remains of people who, unfortunately, died during the conflict. There are almost 20 people left and we want the dismissal of all those who remain in the ranks of the Russian armed forces," he added.
In September, Indian media reported that more than 90 Indian nationals had been tricked into fighting in Ukraine on the side of Russia, and at least eight of them had died.
Indian Prime Minister Modi will visit Russia on October 22-23 at the invitation of President Putin to participate in the 16th BRICS summit, which will be held in Kazan under the Russian presidency.