Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal revealed that over 200 Nepali citizens have reportedly joined the Russian military since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Additionally, there is information suggesting Nepalis serving in the Ukrainian army.

In response, the National Human Rights Commission Nepal emphasized the importance of diplomatic dialogues between Nepal and Russia and Nepal and Ukraine to address the ongoing war crisis. Officials reminded citizens that joining foreign armies without state consent is illegal and carries risks, emphasizing the state's duty to protect its citizens.

While Nepalis are annually recruited into the British and Indian armies under the Tripartite Agreement signed in 1947, allowing Gurkhas to serve in the military services of the United Kingdom and India, there is no such arrangement with Russia. However, in the absence of a formal agreement, dozens of Nepalis are reportedly joining the Russian army, raising concerns about the legality and risks associated with such actions.

Nepal voted in favour of a UN resolution denouncing Russia's attempted annexation of four Ukrainian territories during the United Nations General Assembly. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed concern over Nepali citizens facing challenges, with some reportedly taken hostage by the Ukrainian army, and others serving in the Russian army. Dahal revealed that over 200 Nepalis are now serving in the Russian army, a situation deemed new and challenging for the country.

Several Nepali soldiers who returned from the war have shared accounts of the war's brutality and financial aspects, expressing dissatisfaction with inadequate training and months of unpaid salaries. Nepal, being one of the world's poorest countries, heavily relies on foreign remittances, constituting nearly a quarter of its GDP for over a decade.

Human rights expert Dipendra Bahadur Singh questions the Nepali government's capacity to prevent further enlistments in the Russian army, citing a lack of a robust mechanism to track citizens' movements across borders. Singh urges the government to initiate dialogues with foreign embassies, particularly the Russian Embassy, condemning the enlistment of Nepali youths in the ongoing war.

Image source: DW news