A new kind of human trafficking may have emerged in Nepal: the sending of soldiers to the Russian-Ukrainian front. The rumor of the presence of young Nepalese engaged in this distant war had persisted for several months. The Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal, made the information official in early December after the death of at least six mercenaries, killed in Ukraine and the capture of another. “The government of Nepal has demanded that the Russian government immediately return their bodies and pay compensation to their families”, affirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also asked Moscow to stop using Nepalese fighters. The information has an even worse effect as Kathmandu sided with the West after the attack on Ukraine.
Kathmandu has not given any details on the number of Nepalese soldiers who have joined since the start of the war. But Indian media also mentioned their presence in the Wagner Group. The Prime Minister, for his part, indicated that nationals were also serving in the Ukrainian army.
As early as August, the authorities recalled that enlistment in foreign armies is prohibited for Nepalese, except in India and the United Kingdom. According to Kathmandu PostNepal’s ambassador to Russia, Milan Raj Tuladhar, cited the figure of 150 to 200 Nepalese, young or retired from the army.
They were allegedly lured by promises of large sums of money and the possibility of acquiring Russian citizenship and entered Russia via India or Dubai, on tourist or student visas. Candidates reportedly paid agents up to $8,500 or $9,000 (around 8,370 euros). “We send back at least one Nepalese national per day. They were all brought to Russia to serve in the army”assured the ambassador to the Nepalese daily.
Sordid traffic
On Wednesday December 6, the police arrested twelve people, suspected of having participated in the organization of these departures. Nepal, very poor, mainly rural, is experiencing a very strong emigration of its workforce. Every year, hundreds of thousands of citizens in search of work flock to the Gulf countries. The small Himalayan country survives in part thanks to remittances which represent a third of its gross domestic product. More than 3 million Nepalese, 10% of the population, work abroad, not counting those exiled in India. This migration led to lucrative business and sordid traffic. Recruitment agencies abound in the country to offer their services and present wonderful offers, which often turn out to be scams. To pay these intermediaries, the initial candidates are forced to go into debt.
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