The Indian Embassy in Moscow is working to secure the release of Chandan Gupta, a Noida-based engineer from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, who was detained by Russian authorities alongside a friend.
Allegations and SOS Plea
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The SOS Video: Gupta’s wife, Sneha Gupta, posted a video appeal directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, stating that her family lives in Moscow on a ‘highly qualified specialist’ visa tied to her husband’s Noida-based company.
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Forced Recruitment Claims: She alleged that while in detention, police pressured her husband to join the Russian military to fight against Ukraine, driven by personnel shortages affecting foreign nationals.
Official Government and Police Response
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Detention Charges: Government sources clarified that Gupta—an employee of Flex Films Rus LLC (a local subsidiary of Flex Films)—and his friend Ashish were detained around 11:30 PM on September 5 near Moscow’s Red Square. Local police stated they were arrested on charges of public intoxication and damaging the glass of a nearby ambulance.
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Embassy Action: Detained at the Baumanskaya police station in Moscow, the Indian Embassy has formally taken up the matter with local authorities, requested their release, and sought consular access.
Wider Context The incident occurs against a backdrop of ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding Indian nationals trapped in military service overseas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently noted that 227 Indian nationals have been recruited into the Russian armed forces, with 139 discharged, 51 deceased, and ongoing diplomatic engagement focused on securing the return of those remaining.
