Finance Minister Barshman Pun was met by Russian Ambassador Alexei Novikov at the Ministry of Finance today. During the meeting, Minister Pun raised the issue of Nepalese youth being recruited into the Russian army without a bilateral agreement. He also asked Ambassador Novikov to create an environment for Nepalese working in the Russian army to return home.
Finance Minister Pun also drew the attention of Russia to create an environment for the return of the bodies of Nepalese who died in the Russia-Ukraine war, treatment of the injured, and relief and compensation to the families of the deceased.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already clarified that it is not our policy to recruit our citizens into the Russian army. However, Nepalese who have gone through various paths have joined the Russian army", he said, "There is a serious interest and concern of the general public along with the government of Nepal. I hereby request the Russian government to provide an environment for the return home of Nepalese working in the Russian army.
In response, Ambassador Novikov clarified that the Nepalese government was not guilty of recruiting Nepalese into the army, but argued that Russia had not invited Nepalese to join the army. He mentioned that Nepalese who had gone illegally from various countries including India and Dubai had voluntarily joined the army.
He also claimed that he had received the news that even though Russia wants to send them back, not all Nepalese are willing to return to their country. "They were not recruited into the army by being sent by Nepal or by us. We have received news that more Nepalese are in a state of mind not to return than to return home because they are voluntarily recruited", Ambassador Novikov said.
Ambassador Novikov also informed Finance Minister Pun that preparations are being made to release the Nepalese held hostage by the Ukrainian army by exchanging prisoners of war. "We are ready to free the Nepalese from Ukraine even if they are exchanged with members of the Ukrainian army under the control of our army", he said.
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