Nepal Urges Russia to Return Nepali Nationals Recruited for Ukraine Conflict
Nepal's Foreign Minister, Narayan Prakash Saud, has requested that Russia repatriate hundreds of Nepali nationals who were recruited to fight in the Ukrainian conflict. Saud has also sought the return of the bodies of those who lost their lives in the fighting and is asking for monetary compensation to be provided to the families of the deceased.
According to Saud, the Russian army has recruited over 200 Nepali nationals, with at least 14 of them losing their lives in Ukraine. The Nepali government has asked Russia to immediately halt the recruitment of its citizens and to bring back those who are already serving in the army. Additionally, they are requesting that the bodies of the deceased be returned in order for proper religious rituals to be conducted.
Saud also revealed that they have received information about five Nepali citizens who are currently being held captive by the Ukrainian side. In this regard, Nepali authorities have called on Russia to take the necessary steps to secure their release.
While Russian officials have not yet commented on the recruitment of foreign nationals for military service in Ukraine, media reports suggest that Cuba has also been involved in such recruitment efforts. It is known that Russian law permits foreign nationals to join its army after signing a contract with the Defense Ministry.
In a separate incident, Cuban authorities arrested 17 individuals in September for their alleged involvement in a network that was recruiting Cuban nationals to fight for Russia in Ukraine. In response to the ongoing conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree that expedites the path to Russian citizenship for foreigners who enlist in the country's military.
Notably, Ukraine is also believed to have hired a number of Nepali nationals as soldiers. However, Saud stated that he did not possess further information on this matter.
In an attempt to prevent further recruitment, the Nepali government has already imposed a ban on its citizens from traveling to Russia or Ukraine for employment. This decision was made due to concerns about Nepali citizens being recruited by the Russian army to participate in the Ukrainian conflict.
Every year, tens of thousands of Nepalis seek employment abroad, with permission required from the government before leaving the country. It is believed that those Nepali nationals who managed to reach Russia did so by traveling through a third country, posing as tourists, before ultimately arriving in Russia.
Saud recently held discussions with Russian officials during the Non-Aligned Movement conference in Uganda, where he reiterated Nepal's stance on the issue. He emphasized that Nepali citizens should not be recruited into the army and urged Russia to repatriate them immediately.
The history of Nepali nationals being recruited for military service dates back centuries. The British army, and later India after gaining independence, enlisted Nepali soldiers known as Gurkhas. This arrangement was established in 1816 through a treaty between Nepal and Britain.
