Supreme Court Requests Government Response on Petition for 26 Indians Allegedly Stuck in Russia
Petition Filed Over Stranded Nationals
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Union government to respond to a habeas corpus petition concerning 26 Indian nationals who are reportedly trapped in Russia and coerced into fighting in the conflict against Ukraine. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, issued a notice to the government, demanding a reply within a week.
During the court proceedings, lawyers representing the families of the stranded individuals presented messages from those in Russia, stating, “We are stuck in Russia. We are fighting a war against Ukraine for a foreign state unwillingly.”
Government’s Response and Ongoing Concerns
In response to the allegations, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the situation would be investigated, requesting additional time to address the issue. The Supreme Court emphasized that it had previously instructed the government to look into this matter.
The petition, submitted by family members of the implicated individuals, detailed that the 26 Indians had entered Russia on valid visas for various reasons, including tourism and education. They were reportedly promised jobs by recruitment agents but faced the confiscation of their passports upon arrival, leading to restricted movement and threats compelling them to join military formations associated with the Russian armed forces.
Conditions of Those Stranded
Family members disclosed that the final communications received from the stranded individuals, mainly between September and October 2025, indicated that they were located in or near conflict zones such as Kupyansk, Selydove, Makiivka, and Chelyabinsk. The messages reflected their fear and highlighted their inability to leave the deployment areas. In many cases, families reported a loss of contact, leaving them uncertain about the individuals’ conditions and locations.
The petition further asserted that families had sought assistance from several authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian embassy in Moscow, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and various state governments. However, they have not received definitive information or effective support regarding their relatives’ situations.
Legal Framework and Recruitment Issues
Invoking Article 32 of the Indian Constitution, the petition contended that the government bears a responsibility to safeguard its citizens even when they are located outside India, especially in situations where the citizens cannot defend themselves. The plea drew attention to the issue of illegal recruitment networks that exploit vulnerable individuals with false job opportunities and subsequently send them abroad.
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Contents
Petition Filed Over Stranded NationalsThe Supreme Court of India has directed the Union government to respond to a habeas corpus petition concerning 26 Indian nationals who are reportedly trapped in Russia and coerced into fighting in the conflict against Ukraine. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, issued a notice to the government, demanding a reply within a week.During the court proceedings, lawyers representing the families of the stranded individuals presented messages from those in Russia, stating, “We are stuck in Russia. We are fighting a war against Ukraine for a foreign state unwillingly.”Government’s Response and Ongoing ConcernsIn response to the allegations, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the situation would be investigated, requesting additional time to address the issue. The Supreme Court emphasized that it had previously instructed the government to look into this matter.The petition, submitted by family members of the implicated individuals, detailed that the 26 Indians had entered Russia on valid visas for various reasons, including tourism and education. They were reportedly promised jobs by recruitment agents but faced the confiscation of their passports upon arrival, leading to restricted movement and threats compelling them to join military formations associated with the Russian armed forces.Conditions of Those StrandedFamily members disclosed that the final communications received from the stranded individuals, mainly between September and October 2025, indicated that they were located in or near conflict zones such as Kupyansk, Selydove, Makiivka, and Chelyabinsk. The messages reflected their fear and highlighted their inability to leave the deployment areas. In many cases, families reported a loss of contact, leaving them uncertain about the individuals’ conditions and locations.The petition further asserted that families had sought assistance from several authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian embassy in Moscow, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and various state governments. However, they have not received definitive information or effective support regarding their relatives’ situations.Legal Framework and Recruitment IssuesInvoking Article 32 of the Indian Constitution, the petition contended that the government bears a responsibility to safeguard its citizens even when they are located outside India, especially in situations where the citizens cannot defend themselves. The plea drew attention to the issue of illegal recruitment networks that exploit vulnerable individuals with false job opportunities and subsequently send them abroad.
