A 23-year-old man from Gujarat, allegedly in Ukrainian “captivity” for participating in the war for Russia, has sent an SOS message asking for help from the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The man, Sahil Mohamed Hussein Majothi, made headlines in early October when Ukrainian authorities released a video showing him surrendering, according to an Indian Express report.
Who is Sahil Majothi?
Sahil Majothi is a resident of Kalika Plot area in Morbi. He reportedly left for Russia for higher studies on January 10, 2024. However, he reportedly got involved in a police case and was sentenced to jail, after which he was reportedly forced to fight for Russia.
In a video message reported by the Indian Express, Sahil said, “…Now I am in a Ukrainian military prison because I signed a war treaty when I was stuck in a Russian prison. I signed the treaty only to escape from a Russian prison.” “I want to go home.
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What did Sahil Majothi say in the SOS video?
According to an Indian Express report, Sahil Majothi’s family received two video messages, one in English and one in Hindi, on Sunday evening. They reportedly claimed that the videos were shared by “Ukrainian authorities”.
In one of the videos, Sahil said he was stuck in Ukraine as a war criminal. “…I’m hopeless, I don’t know what will happen in the future.”
Sahil appealed for help: “I appeal to the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and S Jaishankar (External Affairs Minister), if possible, please help. That’s all.”
He also warned Indian citizens who are planning to go to Russia for higher studies or work – “be careful because there are so many scammers here. You can get caught in criminal cases, narcotics cases, illegal cases, so take care of yourself. If possible, stay away from all these.”
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The date the video messages were recorded has not been revealed. However, the IE report said one of them is more recent as Sahil mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India on December 4-5.
“Now I know that (Vladimir) Putin will come to India to meet my government. I also want to tell my government to talk to Vladimir Putin to help me come home,” he said.
He said he was sentenced to seven years in prison in Russia in a narcotics case. “Beguiled by the Russian police, I signed a war treaty in prison to wage war for Russia, the biggest mistake of my life.”
Sahil’s video is said to have the “I want to live” logo. It is a Ukrainian government project on the treatment of prisoners of war. According to the official website, it is intended for soldiers of the Russian armed forces who are willing to voluntarily surrender to Ukrainian forces.
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What do the Geneva Conventions say about the treatment of prisoners of war?
The Geneva Conventions for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW) are intended to ensure that prisoners of war are treated with dignity and respect, and to protect their rights and well-being during and after captivity.
- Humanitarian treatment: Prisoners of war must be treated humanely, with respect for their persons and their honor. This includes the prohibition of violence, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture.
- Protection from hostility: Captives are protected from active participation in hostile actions and are not subject to reprisals against them.
- Medical care and treatment: Detainees must receive adequate medical care and treatment.
- Conditions of imprisonment: Prisoners must be kept in conditions that ensure their physical and mental well-being.
- Evacuation: Prisoners must be evacuated as soon as possible after capture to camps located far enough from the combat zone to ensure their safety.
