Telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Shrestha and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

During the conversation, there was a discussion on bringing back the Nepalis who were illegally recruited into the Russian army, bringing back the dead bodies of those killed during the war with Ukraine, rescuing the injured, compensation to the families of the dead and the injured, etc. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha requested to send the bodies of Nepalis who were killed in the war with Ukraine to Nepal and to give compensation. were .

Shrestha also informed about Nepal's traditional policy of joining the army of other countries except some countries. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shrestha told Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, "Nepal and Russia are old friends". Our relationship has been going on for a long time . Russia should cancel the contract and send back to Nepal the Nepalis who were recruited into the army through a contract.

Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha also asked a question about the number of Nepalis recruited into the Russian army. was given .

In other matters, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov did not answer anything. He only mentioned that the relevant officials of the two countries will work in contact," said an official of the foreign ministry. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha also asked for information about those who joined the Russian army and were arrested in Ukraine.

So far, at least 12 Nepalis have died while joining the Russian army and fighting against Ukraine, while 5 people are captured by the Ukrainian army. Prior to this, during the 19th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Uganda's capital Kampala in the first week of January, then Foreign Minister NP Saud met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vasilievich.

In that meeting, Saud once again urged the Russian minister not to enroll Nepali citizens illegally and to return all those enrolled to Nepal. In addition, Saud also asked him to open the way for a visit to Moscow. But the Russian side only "noted" the Nepal government's request. Thursday's telephone conversation was successful at Nepal's continuous request. But even in Thursday's dialogue, Russia did not give any other information to Nepal.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on November 18, a diplomatic note was sent to Russia saying that 'Nepali citizens should not be recruited into the Russian army and if they are, they should be returned to Nepal immediately'. According to the ministry, there has been no response to the diplomatic note so far.

Russia has not answered any of the questions asked by the Nepalese. Foreign Minister NP Saud called the Russian ambassador to Nepal in Kathmandu, Aleksey Novikov, in the third week of November and the first week of December, and drew the attention of the Nepalese government.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on December 4, stating that except for those involved in government work, Russian government scholarships and professional business, ordinary citizens can travel to Russia only with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Ministry's Consular Services Department, Tripureshwar. is

This system has been expanded and people have been asked to travel with NOC issued by the embassies and consulates in the respective countries if they have to travel to Russia from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.