Ten Nepali workers, who fell prey to false promises of transnational human traffickers, sought refuge at the Embassy of Nepal in Russia on Monday.

The workers, who wanted to stay unnamed, reportedly went to Russia through the collaborative networking of a Petersburg-based Sir Lankan agent, Aahasan Dawud, and various local agents. They reportedly paid Rs 700,000 to the agent.

According to second secretary at the Moscow-based embassy, Gahendra Rajbhandari, the workers were traveling without visas and travel documents and arrived at the embassy from Petersburg. Russia was a transit point in smuggling the workers into other Eastern European countries, according to the embassy.

“The workers are now getting food and shelter at the embassy,” said Rajbhandari, adding that the mission had already begun processes to return them back home. The embassy official also said that the Nepali workers entered Russia on a 27-day tourist visas and were now residing illegally.

Considering Russia’s stiff laws on illegal residence, the embassy acquired exit permits for the workers through a court procedure on Friday. Rajbhandari said the court asked 10 workers to leave the country within 10 days and ordered that the workers not be granted visas for the next five years.

Seven workers have already managed funds for their air tickets while the remaining three have yet to do so.

Besides Dawud, the transnational human trafficking network is said to consist of Bishnu Khadka, Mahesh Nepal, Santosh Nepal and Sirjana Thapa, said the Nepal embassy.

Published on: 7 October 2012 | The Kathmandu Post