KATHMANDU, MAY 3
Despite repeated pleas to the government for the release of their loved ones who joined the Russian army to fight in Ukraine, family members have been staging a hunger strike for 15 days in Kathmandu.
Sirani Gharti Magar from Rukum, Bikash Thapa from Surkhet, and activist Kritu Bhandari, who is leading a campaign on behalf of the families of the Nepali nationals serving in the Russian army, have staged a strike in the capital after the government turned a deaf ear.
Magar arrived in Kathmandu after her husband went out of contact for 5 months, while Thapa joined the campaign after learning of the death of his brother-in-law on the frontline in recent times.
"We didn't have any other option but to stage the strike to press our demands," Magar said to THT while staging the strike at Shantibatika in Bhrikutimandap. Putting forth the demand for release, compensation, treatment, and action against traffickers, we staged the strike to compel the government to expedite dialogue with the Russian government to release Nepalis fighting in Ukraine.
"During this time, we were mistreated and mishandled by the police force," Bhandari said, with a canola strapped to her wrist as other members in the Russian army joined her.
"The government is not only mistreating and misbehaving toward us but also betraying us," Bhandari said, referring to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha addressing HoR, saying that Russia had agreed in principle to terminate the contracts of Nepali citizens currently serving in the Russian army.
"For this, we are yet to fix a modality. The Nepali Embassy in Russia is working out such a modality in coordination with the Russian authorities," Shrestha told the House of Representative (HoR). The government has the daunting task of bringing its citizens back from the Russian army as over 600 Nepalis are estimated to be serving in the war against Ukraine.
However, Bhandari argued that the promise is yet to be materialized. "Two Nepali citizens have returned to Nepal while three others have again returned to the war zone," said Bhandari.
"A total of 111 Nepali nationals serving in the army and in other areas have returned," she said.
Those deployed in the green zone can return easily, but those in the red zone cannot due to strict Russian rules." She added that nine Nepali citizens serving in the Russian army have so far returned to the country.
Bhandari's group has listed 620 Nepali nationals who have joined the Russian army. Of them, 262 have been missing.
We have also submitted documents to the Russian Embassy in Kathmandu concerning rescue operations, the search for missing personnel, the return of bodies killed in the war, compensation, and other benefits," Bhandari shared.
Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu, said, "Regardless of their motives for joining the Russian Army, the government has not refrained from its duties." "We are always in touch with the Russian counterpart for the release, compensation, and treatment of Nepalis serving in its army," diplomat Rai shared.
He also said that the Nepali embassy in Moscow is looking after the issues related to the Nepalis in the Russian Army.
However, Bhandari has expressed dismay over the lack of responsibility taken to safeguard citizens' lives, emphasizing that the ongoing hunger strike is particularly painful due to the apparent insensitivity from all sides.
