Nepal has stopped issuing work permits to its citizens to travel to Russia and Ukraine after at least 10 Nepalis died while serving in the Russian military.
Kabiraj Upreti, director general of Nepal’s Overseas Employment Department, announced on January 5 that the country would stop issuing work permits to Russia and Ukraine to reduce casualties. The decision will be effective until further notice.
"This is to ensure the safety of the people," Mr. Upreti said.
British Army Gurkhas during a military exercise in Cahors, France, in March 2023. Photo: AFP
Millions of Nepalese citizens are recruited by private companies abroad, mainly as industrial and construction workers in South Korea, Malaysia and the Middle East.
More than 800 Nepalese citizens have been granted work permits in non-military sectors in Russia over the past two years. The number of Nepalese workers in Ukraine is unknown.
However, many Nepalis have signed up to serve in the Russian army to fight in Ukraine. Nepalese police last month arrested 10 people for allegedly charging huge sums of money from unemployed young men to smuggle them across the border into Russia and sign them up for military service.
The Nepalese government says about 200 of its citizens are serving in the Russian military. Nepal has also confirmed 10 of its citizens were killed and 100 are missing while serving in the Russian military.
Nepal had earlier asked Russia not to recruit Nepali citizens into the army and immediately repatriate them and compensate the families of those killed.
Nepalese soldiers, also known as Gurkhas, are renowned for their bravery and fighting skills. Nepal does not allow its citizens to serve in foreign armies, except for British and Indian forces under an agreement signed between the three countries. However, many fighters still seek to go abroad as mercenaries, with Russia being an attractive destination.
Ngoc Anh (According to Reuters )
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