Himal Press 
Representative Image. (Photo: Getty Images)
KATHMANDU: Russia has agreed to pay compensation to the families of Nepalis who died while serving in its army. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia has communicated with the Embassy of Nepal in Moscow, expressing its willingness to provide compensation to Nepalis who died in Russia-Ukraine.
Amrit Bahadur Rai, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the ministry was engaging in necessary discussions regarding this matter. He added, “Russia has acknowledged that Nepalis have died while serving in its army and agreed to provide compensation. Since we don’t have the exact number of Nepalis serving in the Russian army, we have also sought details from the Russian government.”
Rai mentioned that the Russian government would provide compensation after the government submits the identification documents of the deceased Nepalis and details of their next of kin in Nepal.
Although the foreign ministry has confirmed the death of 13 Nepalis while serving in the Russian army, Russia has confirmed the death of only 10 Nepalis so far. It hasn’t provided any information about the other three Nepalis.
According to the ministry, Hari Prasad Aryal of Syangja, Bharat Bahadur Shah of Kailali, Raj Kumar Giri of Dhading, Sandeep Thapaliya of Gorkha, Rupak Karki of Kapilvastu, Dewan Rai of Kaski, Pritam Karki of Syangja, Raj Kumar Roka of Dolakha, Ganga Raj Moktan of Ilam, Kundan Singh Nagal, Sonu Sunar of Pyuthan, Rupak Karki of Kapilvastu, and Sajan Gurung have died while serving in the Russian Army. The ministry has stated that Russia hasn’t confirmed the death of Sonu Sunar and Sajan Gurung, while it has told Nepal that Nagal’s permanent address remains unknown. Likewise, Russia hasn’t provided any information about the whereabouts of the bodies of these fallen youths.
More than 300 families have filed applications with the Department of Consular Services, demanding the rescue of their loved ones from Russia. Likewise, the department has received over three dozen requests for the repatriation of dead bodies from Russia.
Foreign ministry officials say that although Russia has agreed to provide compensation to deceased Nepalis, it has not responded to Nepal’s calls to send the dead bodies to Nepal. They also stated that Russian officials haven’t specified the compensation amount yet, a foreign ministry official said.
Russia provides seven million roubles (approximately Rs 10.4 million) to its fallen soldiers. Last month, the foreign ministry wrote to the Russian government requesting compensation on par with the fallen Russian soldiers. Russia hasn’t responded to the foreign ministry’s letter yet.
