Nepalese Police Arrest 10 People Related To Sending Illegal Youth To Russia To Become Soldiers

JAKARTA - Nepalese police arrested about 10 people said to be linked to the illegal recruitment of local youths to become Russian soldiers, after asking unemployed youths for visas, an official said Wednesday.

Nepal this week called on Moscow not to recruit its citizens to become Russian soldiers, repatriating Nepalese troops in its armed forces back to the Himalayan country after six of its citizens serving in the Russian military were killed.

Kathmandu District Police Chief Bhupendra Khatri said 10 people had been detained by police for the past few days, after receiving information.

"We are in discussions with government lawyers about this case and will take them to court," Khatri told Reuters, as reported December 5, though not saying when they would attend the court.

Khatri further said the detainees illegally charged up to $9.000 to everyone, sending them to Russia with "visa visits (tourists)" primarily through the UAE, before they were recruited into Russian troops.

"This is a case of human smuggling, organized crime," explained Khatri.

Prisoners could not immediately be reached for comment.

Nepal, located between China and India, has asked Russia, which invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022, to compensate families of Nepalese killed.

Nepal's army, called Gurkha, is known for its courage and fighting skills. They have served in the British and Indian army, after India's independence in 1947 under agreements between the three countries. There is no such agreement with Russia.