Foreign Minister NP Saud has requested Russia to repatriate Nepali citizens, who have joined the Russian army after the war broke out with Ukraine on February 24, 2022. During his meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin on the sideline of the NAM summit in Uganda's capital, Kampala, on Friday, FM Saud said that Nepal does not have a policy of sending citizens to foreign armies except under the traditional arrangement with some countries. Saud also requested him to return the bodies of Nepalis, who were killed during the war with Ukraine and provide compensation to their families. In response, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister is reported to have said that he would take initiatives to address the issues raised by Foreign Minister Saud. This is a step in the right direction. The government has so far confirmed the death of 11 Nepali nationals, who died while fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. Family members of none of these victims have neither received the dead body of their loved one for their last rites, nor have they received compensation from the Russian government as promised to the victims.

Nepal has no policy of sending its nationals to the Russian army. Earlier on August 1, the government officially issued a notice stating that the government has no policy of approving the recruitment of any Nepali citizens in foreign military forces except in the national army of a few friendly nations in accordance with the long-standing agreement.  The foreign ministry also urged Nepalis not to get recruited in the military service of the war-ravaged nations on the basis of false information or other's temptation. Nepali side has already communicated with the Russian authorities through diplomatic channels to not recruit Nepali youths in its army and also provide the details of those already enlisted in the Russian army. Yet, the Russian side has reportedly not responded to Nepal's request and it appears that it is continuing to recruit Nepali nationals in its army. As a gesture of a good friend, Russia should address Nepal's legitimate concerns.  

While we expect Russia to address the concerns expressed by Nepal, it is equally important on the part of the government to take additional administrative measures to stop Nepali youths reaching the warzone. Police have made a commendable job by busting the racket involved in sending Nepali youths to Russia. Additionally, the government has made it mandatory for Nepali nationals to receive NOC to travel to Russia. However, these measures alone do not seem to have deterred Nepali youths from going to Russia and joining the army. The government authorities concerned must create awareness among youths through factual information that their life is critically at risk while going to the war zone. As a country that Nepal enjoys decade-long friendship, Russian authorities also must positively respond to the request of Nepal to stop recruiting its nationals in its army. It is sad to note that the Russian side has so far declined to even provide the details of Nepali nationals in its army, let alone stopping the recruitment of Nepali citizens in its defense force. We hope to see this attitude of Russia change. Nepal, which advocates resolving the conflict through peaceful means, does not want to be a party to the conflict. We look forward to seeing the Russian side respecting Nepal’s concerns at the earliest.

 
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