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The Government of India has stepped up efforts to secure the early release and repatriation of its citizens fighting on the side of Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. According to the Deccanherald, the death of Indian Binil Babu, a native of Kerala, prompted New Delhi to raise the issue of early repatriation with the Russian government again.
The Indian Embassy in Moscow is actively working on the issue of returning Babu’s remains to his hometown. Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs of India, said that the government expresses its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and provides the necessary support to the affected families. He also reiterated the demand to Moscow for the immediate release of all Indian citizens remaining in the Russian army.
Additional efforts are being made to repatriate Jain Kurien, another Indian citizen who was wounded in the fighting in Ukraine. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs informed the Parliament that as of 13 December, 19 Indian citizens were held by Russian troops, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kirti Vardhan Singh.
Subramanyam Jaishankar, the Indian Foreign Minister, said that 91 Indians were initially recruited into the Russian army, of whom eight have already been killed. In September, it was reported that after 45 people were demobilised, another 50 Indian citizens continued to fight on the side of Russia. In July, during a visit to Moscow, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who promised to help resolve the issue of demobilisation of Indian citizens.
