Hyderabad–The Indian Embassy in Moscow has formally requested the Russian government to expedite the release and repatriation of Mohammed Ahmed, a Hyderabad resident allegedly coerced into joining the Russian Army.
The intervention followed a plea from AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who raised the matter with India’s Foreign Secretary after Ahmed’s family sought help upon receiving a distress video from him.
Ahmed, 37, from Khairatabad, had reportedly traveled to Russia in April seeking employment but was deceived by a Mumbai-based job agent. Once in Russia, he was allegedly taken to a remote area, provided with basic weapons training, and deployed to the warfront against Ukraine.
His wife, Afsha Begum, said Ahmed had gone to Russia for a civilian job but ended up being forced into military service. “He was shifted to an unknown location and made to join the Army,” she said.
In a written response to Owaisi, Indian Embassy Counsellor Tadu Mamu confirmed that the mission has shared Ahmed’s details with Russian authorities and requested his early discharge. “The Embassy has been following up on all cases of Indian nationals in the Russian Army on priority. The Embassy will keep the family informed on any further updates regarding Mr. Mohammed Ahmed,” the letter stated.
In his video message, Ahmed recounted that he had worked as a bouncer in Hyderabad before leaving for Russia on April 25. After arriving, he was left idle for nearly a month, denied pay for work he attempted, and ultimately conscripted. “We were a group of 25 people. Seventeen have died, including one Indian,” he said. Ahmed added that when he and three others refused to fight, they were threatened at gunpoint. Injured and unable to walk, he said he had been ordered back to the front lines.
The incident follows a similar case from last year involving another Hyderabad resident, Mohammed Asfan, who was killed after being duped into joining the Russian Army. His body was brought back to India in March 2024 after the Ministry of External Affairs intervened.
Asfan, who had worked at a garment store, had been recruited through a Dubai-based agent and promised a helper’s job in the Russian Army with pay ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh per month. When his family lost contact with him, they filed a police complaint and sought help from Owaisi, who raised the matter with the ministry.
Authorities continue to warn Indian citizens against fraudulent overseas job offers that have led to similar cases of forced conscription in Russia’s war with Ukraine. (Source: IANS)
