KATHMANDU: Over 250 Nepalis currently in Russia have sent pleas for rescue. Forty of them are working in the Russian army, according to a foreign ministry official.
According to the foreign ministry official, these Nepalis submitted their applications to the Embassy of Nepal in Moscow via email. “Nepalis working in Russia have been sending emails and making phone calls to the Nepali mission in Moscow for their rescue. More than 40 Nepalis serving in the Russian army have filed rescue applications so far,” the official added.
Nepalis in Russia, including those in the course of study and employment and those on visit visas, are among those who have submitted applications for rescue.
Rishiraj Acharya, the information officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Nepalis currently in Russia are submitting applications at the Nepali mission in Moscow. He, however, refused to provide the number of applicants.
Sushil Ghimire, second secretary at the Nepali embassy in Moscow, did not answer calls from Himal Press for comments.
Russia has been listing people from different countries in its army as its conflict with Ukraine shows no sign of ending. The two countries are in a war since Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The government has claimed that it has taken diplomatic initiatives for the return of Nepalis stuck in Russia. Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin on the sidelines of the 19th Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda last week and requested him to return Nepalis currently serving in the Russian army to Nepal. Saud also asked Russia to repatriate the bodies of Nepalis who died while serving in the Russian army to Nepal.
In response, Vershinin said he would take the initiative to address the issues raised by Foreign Minister Saud.
Last month, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that around 200 Nepalis have enlisted in the Russian army. However, Nepalis in Moscow say more than 1,000 youths are estimated to have joined the Russian army.
The foreign ministry has confirmed the deaths of 13 Nepalis while serving in the Russian army.
According to the foreign ministry, more than 10,000 Nepalis are currently in Russia.
Representative Image. (Photo: Getty Images)
