A day after it emerged that a man from Kerala died fighting in the Russian army on the front lines of the country’s war against Ukraine, the External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said it took up the issue strongly with the Russian government. Is. The ministry said that India has reiterated its demand for early discharge of other people from the country included in the Russian Army.
The family of Binil Babu, 32, from Thrissur, Kerala, had said that he and a relative were injured in the drone strike. They were later informed that Babu had died while the relative was undergoing treatment for serious injuries.
In a statement on Tuesday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have learned about the unfortunate death of an Indian national from Kerala, who was apparently recruited for service in the Russian Army. An Indian national from Kerala And the Indian citizen, which was like that.” “Has been admitted, injured and is receiving treatment in a Moscow hospital.”
Expressing his condolences to the family of the slain man, Mr Jaiswal said the Embassy of India in Moscow is in touch with both the families and is helping them in every possible way. The ministry is working with Russian authorities to quickly return the body of the deceased to India, he said, and has also sought “early discharge and repatriation” of the injured person to India.
“This matter has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities in Moscow as well as with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi today. We have also reiterated our demand for the early release of the remaining Indian nationals,” the spokesperson said.
In October last year, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said that 85 Indians had been discharged from the Russian Army and efforts were on to secure the release of 20 others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue of early departure of Indians during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July and reiterated it when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan in October.
“An important issue that came up was the issue of early release of Indian nationals remaining in the Russian army. This issue came up on both sides in the discussion, and with the support of the Russian side, a number of Indian nationals were recently discharged Months later, India was able to return,” Mr Misri had said after the summit.
