No word from Russia on Telangana man’s fate, says Indian embassy | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Even as the Indian embassy in Moscow has sought the release of four Telangana-origin men from the Russian Army, it said Russian authorities have neither confirmed the whereabouts of Mohammed Afzal Khan nor verified reports of his death. The embassy, however, said it was informed that Afzal had joined the Russian Army as a Russian citizen and was holding a Russian passport.In an email response to a petition, Hardesh Giri, first secretary (consular), said the embassy had taken up the matter with Russia’s defence ministry. “The embassy has not yet received any information from the Russian authorities regarding his whereabouts or demise,” he said, assuring further updates once a response is received.Families allege job fraudIn a representation submitted to external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Oct 2, Majlis Bachao Tahreek spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan sought intervention for Bhukya Ravinder, Sirisu Ashok, Megavath Prakash and Afzal Khan, whose families are from Kamareddy and Nizamabad districts.Amjed Khan said the families approached him after the men travelled to Russia on promises of employment allegedly made by travel or job agents. According to the families, they were later forced to work under or for the Russian military.Recruiter rejects coercionOne of the recruiters for the Russian Army, Nadezhda, told TOI over phone that the men were Russian citizens who had signed military contracts using Russian passports.She claimed they had formally renounced Indian citizenship in the presence of an interpreter and a notary, and insisted the process was voluntary. “No one forces them to do so, and no one misleads them!” she said.The recruiter declined to share names or details of serving personnel and alleged that videos circulating about Russian servicemen were part of a disinformation campaign spread by enemy intelligence agencies.Nadezhda said relatives could travel to Russia with passports and proof of relationship, obtain a migration card, arrange notarised translations and approach a military commissariat or enlistment centre to obtain records.She said the required documentation could help families open a special bank account and added that compensation of up to 15 million roubles (₹1.7 crore) may be available to families in eligible cases involving deaths during Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.T man claims injury in UkraineMeanwhile, Ashok, serving in the Russian Army, has claimed he was injured in a drone attack near Selydove in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. In audio messages sent to his wife, Saritha, Ashok alleged that he was captured after the attack and was being held captive, though he did not identify who was holding him.Saritha said she received the audio messages along with a photograph showing an injury to his leg. Ashok also claimed that several Indians were injured and some killed in the attack, including a Hyderabad man whose identity could not be established.