Nepal** said it had asked Moscow not to recruit its citizens into the Russian army and to stand side by side after six Nepalese soldiers serving in the Russian army were found dead.
That is, to return any Nepalese soldier who served in the Russian army to the country.
Known as the Gurkhas, Nepalese soldiers are known for their bravery and skill, and since India's independence in 1947, they have served in the British and Indian armies under an agreement between the three countries. Sandwiched between China and India, the small Himalayan state has no such agreement with Russia, which has been embroiled in the war since its full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
Nepal** said in a statement that six Nepalese national** who served in the Russian army died, but did not provide any details. Nepal*** said on the evening of December 4: "Nepal** has demanded that Russia** immediately return their remains and pay compensation to their families".
The statement added that diplomatic efforts are being made to secure the release of a Nepalese citizen who served in the Russian army and was captured by Ukraine. Nepal also urges its citizens not to join the armies of any war-torn country.
The Kathmandu Post quoted Nepal's ambassador to Russia, Milan Raj Tuladhar, as saying that between 150 and 200 Nepalis are serving as mercenaries in the Russian army.
The Russian Embassy in Nepal did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Millions of Nepalese nationals are employed in civil work, mainly as workers on industrial and construction sites in South Korea, Malaysia and the Middle East.