India Continues Efforts to Secure Release of Citizens in Russia, Says MEA
India is actively pursuing the release of its citizens in Russia, with discussions held at various diplomatic levels, including with Foreign Minister Lavrov.
New Delhi, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is steadfast in its efforts to address the issue of Indian citizens currently in Russia. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed during a weekly press briefing that discussions regarding their release are ongoing at multiple levels with Russian authorities.
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar recently met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the G20 meeting, where they discussed ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Jaiswal noted that Jaishankar held several bilateral meetings at the G20, including one focused on these pressing issues.
The meeting took place on Saturday in Atlanta, and following it, Jaishankar took to social media platform ‘X’ to share insights about their discussions, which included the Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Gulf region, and various multilateral topics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also engaged in talks on this matter, both in New Delhi and earlier in Bishkek with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Jaiswal mentioned that he himself visited Moscow for discussions with Lavrov and even traveled to Kyiv during this period.
Regarding the return of Indian citizens from Russia, Jaiswal reiterated, “As I have mentioned before, this is an issue we are consistently raising with the Russian side at various levels.”
Last month, the MEA reported that approximately 259 Indian nationals had been recruited into the Russian military. Of these, 139 have been successfully repatriated to India through government efforts, while negotiations continue for the return of 69 others.
The ministry clarified that it cannot provide information on how many of these individuals may have acquired Russian citizenship, as its records pertain solely to Indian citizens.
