The contracts of all the Nepalis recruited in the Russian army have expired. They are returning to Moscow from the battlefield after Russia did not renew the contract for a year. After working in the Russian army for one year, they were recruited under the temptation of getting citizenship there, but they did not get any benefits other than salary.

Russia announced that it had stopped recruiting Nepali youths from last May after Nepal raised the issue of illegal recruitment of Nepali youths into the Russian army and deployed on the battlefield. Nepali youths were losing their lives and many were injured when Russia deployed them in the war against Ukraine without even giving them basic training. 

It has been confirmed that 49 Nepali youths who were deployed in various fronts to fight against Ukraine have died. Apart from that, the process of DNA testing is going on to identify the dead bodies of 57 people. The families of 118 people without contact have applied to the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for searching. 

After the news of the death of Nepalese youth started coming, the government of Nepal sent a diplomatic note to Russia in the third week of November last year asking them to stop the recruitment of Nepalis in the Russian army and to immediately send those who have been recruited back home. After this diplomatic initiative of the government, Russia seems to have stopped the new admissions as well as not advancing the renewal process. 

Outgoing Nepalese Ambassador to Russia Milanraj Tuladhar says that he has received information that the contracts of all Nepalis in the Russian army have expired. Many have been admitted from August to September 2023. All of their contracts have expired," he said, adding that there was little chance of recruitment after December due to the cold. It was announced that admission was not taken from last May.' 

Russia has stopped renewing even for Nepalese who want to extend the contract period. Some friends wanted to renew the contract. But the government here says that the contract cannot be extended," said a Nepalese who joined the Russian army and was stationed in Bakhmut, Ukraine. "There are 18 of us here. We are all returning to Moscow.' 

The number of Nepalese who have returned to Moscow after the contract period is over is not certain. A Nepali who joined the Russian army said that he was upset because the contract was not renewed. 

At the time of enrollment, it was said that after the end of the one-year period, they will get 30 million rubles (about 37.5 million rupees), and within one year, they will get Russian citizenship and passport. "We were told that we do not have to go to war after obtaining citizenship," said another Nepali, "We did not join the Russian army just by looking at the salary. We went to war thinking that if we live for one year, we will become the future. Now the contract is not added. There is also a problem in making a passport. The war fighters are being sent away empty-handed.'

2022 Since February 24, the Russia-Ukraine war continues. After suffering unexpected losses in the war with Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin introduced a policy to recruit foreign nationals to increase the number of soldiers, with a salary of about three hundred thousand rubles and a direct grant of Russian citizenship after one year. Because of that attraction, Nepali youths reached Moscow through India and third countries and joined the army through human traffickers.

Some Nepali students studying in Russia were recruited and went to the battlefield. Although Russia has not provided an official number, it is estimated that at least 1,500 Nepalis have joined its army. According to the immigration department here, 2900 Nepalis went to Russia from January 2022 to November 2023 through study, labor and visit visas. Apart from that, Nepali youths also came to Russia from the Gulf countries, Malaysia, etc. 

Most of the recruits in the Russian army are unaware of the provisions of the youth contract and the service facilities mentioned in it. According to some Nepalis, the provision of citizenship and passport is clearly mentioned in the contract after serving one year or after the contract period. But due to procedural delays and the fear of returning to war, most of the Nepalis are returning with only their salaries.

One person who arrived in Kathmandu last Thursday said that he only got his salary. It is not possible to get Russian citizenship immediately. I didn't even know when I would get it," he said. "I could have thought if it had been decided that I would not have to go to war after getting Russian citizenship. But all those who have citizenship are being sent to fight again. I didn't get anything except salary.' 

Another Nepali in Moscow said that he is preparing to return home because the process of making Russian citizenship and passport is slow. After having to stay in the battlefield, they have also left their Russian passports and citizenship and started the process of returning to Nepal. Now it is also heard that foreigners are not allowed to stay in the army.' 

A Nepali who returned to Moscow from the Kursk frontline in Russia informed that some Nepalis are still in the battlefield in the hope of getting citizenship and passport according to the agreement and renewing the agreement. "But they also fear that they will have to return to the battlefield after obtaining citizenship and passport," he said. 

Ex-ambassador Tuladhar, who recently returned after spending two and a half years in Russia, said that the families of the injured and the dead will receive compensation. According to the agreement, Russia has written a letter saying that the Nepalese will also get compensation just like the Russian army, it is also mentioned in the agreement. In some contracts, the name of the desired beneficiary for compensation is written, in some others it is not. Even if not, the rightful can claim," he said. "Every wound is insured. It was reported that the treatment of the injured was also good. They have also received compensation for being injured.' 

However, although most of the injured in the war received compensation, there is a complaint that the injured who returned to Nepal did not receive compensation. Those who were injured and received treatment in Russia received compensation according to the rules. "The injured who run away and go home have not received compensation," said a Nepali. On the other hand, the families of the deceased in Nepal have not received compensation. Last June, Russia sent a letter to the Nepalese embassy to collect money from six people. But it has been stopped due to the problem of bringing the compensation to the account of the embassy and sending it to Nepal. 

Ex-ambassador Tuladhar said that due to technical problems, the compensation amount was delayed. "We made a plan to bring the compensation amount to the account of the embassy, ​​send that amount to Nepal and transfer it to the bank account of the victim's family from the relevant district. Accordingly, we requested Russia to send the amount," he said, "but some technical problems have appeared in this." Bank's 'Swift System' does not work to send money from Russia to Nepal. They give in rubles. It can be exchanged for dollars.