Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha on Tuesday said complications remain in bringing back the Nepali citizens serving in the Russian army.

Hundreds of Nepali citizens are reported fighting for the Russians against Ukraine. A small number of Nepali citizens are serving in the Ukrainian Army, too, but both conflicting nations have not shared the details with the government of Nepal.

Since the war between Russia and Ukraine has not stopped, bringing Nepalis back from the Russian army is still difficult, Shrestha told journalists. The minister on Tuesday held talks with the families and relatives of some of the Nepalis who have joined the Russian army. He also met with the Russian ambassador to Nepal Aleksei Novikov.

DPM Shrestha is learnt to have urged the Russian ambassador to provide details of the Nepali nationals serving in the Russian army, to stop recruitment of the Nepalis and provide compensation to the families of those who had died in the war. Shrestha also reportedly said that he wants to visit Russia and take stock of the condition of the Nepali nationals in Russia. He said he is keen to know how Nepali nationals were duped and brought to Russia and talk to Russian officials to resolve the issue. Shrestha also reportedly told the Russian ambassador that if Moscow does not listen and act on Nepal’s requests, the government would seek support from other countries.

On March 7, Shrestha held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and raised the concerns of the Nepali side. According to the Russian foreign ministry, the ministers exchanged views on topical issues on the bilateral agenda and discussed the prospects of development cooperation between the two countries.

According to a network of the victims' families, 20 Nepali nationals are confirmed dead fighting for the Russians, more than 260 have gone missing or are out of contact. Around 700 family members have come forward stating that their family members or relatives have joined the Russian army and are seeking help for their safe return.

“We have repeatedly instructed our mission in Moscow to take up the issue of sending back the Nepali citizens serving in the Russian army,” said Shrestha. “We have heard no concrete words from the Russian side regarding their commitment to sending back the Nepali citizens recruited into the Russian army.”

Kathmandu has frequently asked the Russian government to terminate the agreements signed with the Nepali citizens before taking them into the Russian army, said Shrestha. “We have also urged the government of Ukraine to send back the Nepali citizens they have captured. Some Nepali citizens serving in the Russian army are in the captivity of the Ukrainian army.

“Besides my telephone conversation with the Russian counterpart and my meeting with the Russian ambassador, the government has already made correspondence with the government of Russia for the safe return of the Nepali people, their safety, and compensation, among others,” said Shrestha. “Our natural concern is that for those who died in the war, their family should conduct the funeral rites as per their culture and tradition. We have drawn the Russian authorities’ attention to this.”

The Russian government should treat the injured people well and they should not be reengaged in the job, he said. The relatives of the dead should be compensated.

Kirtu Bhandari, who leads a network of the victims’ families, said the minister listened to their grievances seriously and assured them that he would take up the matter with the Russian side. On Tuesday, they also lodged a complaint with the Russian Embassy.

“We expressed our concerns regarding the insurance and issue of compensation with the Russian side,” Shrestha said. “We also think it is our duty to know how many Nepali nationals are serving in the Russian army, how many of them are dead, how many of them are injured and how many of them are out of contact.”

Shrestha continued, “To know and understand the situation of the Nepali nationals, we have taken up the matter at different levels and have been urging the Russian side to terminate the contract of the Nepali nationals with the Russian army and send them back to Nepal.”

Some Nepali nationals were captured by the Ukrainian forces as prisoners of war, Shrestha said, adding that Nepal also demanded their safe release.

Recently, Russian officials communicated that they have initiated the process to compensate the family members of those who were killed in their war with Ukraine.

Published on: 13 March 2024 | The Kathmandu Post