NEPAL ASKS RUSSIA TO RETURN BODIES OF THOSE KILLED AND RECRUITED TO FIGHT IN UKRAINE

Thu 25 January 2024:

Nepal demanded the return of the remains of those who lost their lives in the conflict, as well as the callback of hundreds of its citizens who were recruited in Russia’s army, said Nepal’s top diplomat on Thursday (Jan 25).

In an interview with The Associated Press, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud stated that at least 14 of the approximately 200 Nepali citizens who are believed to have been recruited by the Russian army to fight against Ukraine had already died.

“We have asked Russia to immediately stop the recruitment of Nepali nationals in their army, immediately return those who are already serving in the army, repatriate the bodies of those killed, and treat and return those who were wounded in the fighting,” said Saud.

Saud added that Nepal has been seeking monetary compensation for the families of those Nepalis who died in the war with Russia.

Among the 14 Nepali nationals who have been confirmed to have died in the war, Russia said that it has been in possession of 12 bodies. Most Nepalis want their deceased relatives’ dead body be returned so that they can be cremated with religious rituals.

“We have information that five of our citizens who fought on behalf of the Russians are being held captive by the Ukraine side. We are asking the Russian side to take initiatives to get them freed,” said Saud.

The government of Nepal has placed a ban on its citizens from travelling to Ukraine or Russia for employment, stating that the Russian army has recruited many people to fight in the conflict in Ukraine.

Saud had held talks with Russian officials earlier this month, on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement conference in Uganda and spoke about the issues.

“We have clearly conveyed to them that our citizens are not allowed to be recruited in the army and to immediately send them back,” he said.

No comment has been made by Russian officials on the foreign nationals’ recruitment for the military service in Ukraine, however, media reports have suggested that not only Nepal, people have also been recruited into the Russian military from Cuba.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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