February 28: Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud has said efforts were underway to repatriate the Nepali nationals recruited in the Russian military.    
The minister shared this at a meeting held at the ministry on Tuesday with the relatives of the Nepali citizens who joined the Russian military.    
"It would have been better if they had joined legally. They adopted illegal measure for joining. Whatever the ways they adopted, the state has the responsibility towards them," Minister Saud said, adding, "The government is ever responsible to its citizens. The government will leave no stone unturned to return them. I have been honestly putting my efforts for the same."    
Minister Saud had called the members of the families of those recruited in the Russian Army for discussion at the ministry.    
He further shared that the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Moscow-based Nepali Embassy have exerted all-out efforts to the possible extent to safely repatriate those recruited in the Russian Army, arrange their treatment and rescue and bring back the bodies of those killed in the war zone.      
"In order for the safe return of the Nepali nationals, the government is continually in correspondence with the Russian side by mobilizing Kathmandu-based Russian Embassy, Moscow-based Nepali Embassy and other measures," the minister added.    
At the meeting, the Foreign Affairs Minister informed that the respective families have so far filed applications at the Department of Consular Services about 244 people, including those deceased and remained out of contact, seeking cooperation for safe repatriation of those who joined the Russian military.    
The minister urged the families of the concerned Nepali nationals to register their applications at the Department of Consular Services about those recruited in the Russian Army. It would help the government to identify the status of Nepali nationals recruited in the Russian Army, he added.    
Also on the occasion, the minister shared the efforts made with the embassies of Russia and India to this effect.    
He further shared that the Russian side has positively responded to some issues raised by Nepal government about its nationals recruited in the Russian Army and the issue of providing compensation to the families of the deceased and the injured has made progress. -- RSS