Gujarati : student detained in Ukraine says, “I want to come home,” and asks PM Modi for assistance
Gujarati : Currently detained in Ukraine for allegedly fighting on behalf of Russia, a 23-year-old man from Gujarat’s Morbi district has made a plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for assistance in obtaining his release.
He also cautioned Indian people who were considering studying or working in Russia to be wary of frauds in video messages he sent to his family.
The Morbi resident, Sahil Mohamed Hussein Majothi, initially gained notoriety earlier in October when a video of him turning himself in to Ukrainian soldiers was made public by Ukrainian officials.
with January 10, 2024, Majothi arrived in St. Petersburg with a student visa to enroll in an ITMO University course on Russian language and culture.
Before being apprehended by Ukrainian troops, he supposedly had to enlist in the Russian military, was involved in legal issues, and was imprisoned in Russia.
Majothi characterized his circumstances as dire in two video messages that his family received on Sunday night, one in Hindi and one in English, and which were allegedly provided by Ukrainian officials.
As a war criminal, I am now stranded in Ukraine. In one of the films, he states, “I am hopeless and I have no idea what the future holds.” “Those coming to Russia for higher studies or work should be very careful,” he said. This place is full with con artists. You can get entangled in criminal, drug, or illicit issues. Avoid all of this as much as you can.
“I request the Indian government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to please help me,” he said in an appeal to Indian authorities.
He claims he signed a contract to serve in the conflict just to avoid a Russian prison term, and he is being kept in a Ukrainian military cell in the English-language film.
When I was imprisoned in Russia, I signed the military contract. That was the worst thing I ever did in my life,” he adds, adding that he hopes Indian officials would take his case to Russia so that he may return home.
Majothi also says he was tricked into joining the conflict, convicted to seven years in prison, and wrongfully accused in a Russian drug case.
The Coordination Headquarters on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, a government initiative supported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and Defense Intelligence, created the “I Want to live” emblem for the films.
According to its official website, it is meant for Russian military personnel who are prepared to willingly surrender to Ukrainian troops.