Nepalese authorities have suspended issuing work permits to citizens of the country in Russia and Ukraine after news of the death of 10 Nepalese while serving in the Russian army. This was reported by Reuters with reference to the director of the Department of Foreign Employment, Kabiraj Upreti.
“This is being done for the safety of our citizens,” added the agency’s interlocutor. According to the Nepalese government, up to 200 Nepalese are employed in the Russian army. As Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud clarified, about 100 people are missing. 10 Nepalese, according to officials, died.
The Nepalese authorities demanded that Russia not recruit Nepalese to participate in the war in Ukraine, send all citizens of the country back and pay compensation to the families of the dead Nepalese. Nepal cooperates with the British and Indian armies, but the country has no agreements with Russia on military service.
For employment abroad, Nepalese citizens are required to obtain permission not only from the host country, but also from the Nepalese authorities. Journalists clarified that this gives Nepalese the right to government support in case of emergencies, including death. Over the past two years, 800 Nepalese have received work permits in Russia.
Earlier it became known about the recruitment of citizens of other countries to participate in the war. In particular, Cubans were hired into the Russian army. In early September, Cuban authorities arrested 17 people believed to be involved. Colonel of the Cuban Ministry of Internal Affairs Cesar Rodriguez clarified that the leader of a group of human traffickers collaborated with two people living on the island to recruit Cubans for the war.
Before this, the Cuban Foreign Ministry announced the discovery of a “human trafficking” network, the participants of which forced Cuban citizens to fight against Ukraine. The department stressed that Cuba will confront anyone who “participates in any form of human trafficking for the purpose of recruitment or mercenary work.” Mediazona told one such story.
Vladimir Putin signed a decree that allows foreigners who have signed a contract for military service to obtain Russian citizenship. State Duma Deputy Alexander Khinshtein wrote that “now the problem with the extradition of Northern Military District veterans to other countries, where they will face punishment for “mercenarism,” will be resolved.”