Bengaluru, 22 Feb

Karnataka government has written to the External Affairs Ministry for the rescue of three young men from the State, amid reports that they were being forced to fight in Russia's war with Ukraine, Minister Priyank Kharge said on Thursday. He urged the Central government to take this matter seriously and come to their rescue immediately.

In what is said to be a "job fraud", according to reports, three from Kalaburagi district and one from neighbouring Telangana are stranded on the Russia-Ukraine border, after they were allegedly sent to Russia by their recruiters with a promise that they will be working as army security helpers, but were being forced to fight in Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine against their will.

They have been recruited into the Wagner Group (a private military allegedly funded by the Russian government) for war with Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters here, he said that he has also spoken to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge last night and requested him to bring it to the notice of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and he has assured that he will speak to the Minister and will also write a letter to him.

Mallikarjun had been an MP from Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) in the past.

Nawaz Kalagi, father of the youth Syed Iliyas Hussain stuck in Russia, urged with the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help bring his son back.  “My son left for Russia on 18 December, 2023, for a security helper’s job but now he is asked to fight the war. My son used to work in Dubai and from there he left to Russia,” said Father. 

The incident came to light after the youths shared a video of their problems.