There Are 69 Citizens Recruited To Become Russian Soldiers, India Waits For Release

JAKARTA - Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Friday, August 9, India was waiting for the release of 69 of its citizens recruited into Russian troops to fight in Ukraine.

Eight of the 91 Indian nationals recruited as soldiers of the Russian armed forces have died, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told legislative members during a question and answer session in parliament.

14 of them have been dismissed or with our help have returned. And there are still 69 Indian citizens waiting to be relieved of their duties from the Russian armed forces," Jaishankar added, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, August 10.

He also said that during his visit to Moscow last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

India's main investigative and prosecution agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, announced in May about the arrest of four people on human trafficking charges for combat roles in Russia's armed forces.

India is one of Russia's main economic partners and in recent months has significantly increased Russian crude imports.