Russia has agreed to compensate the families of Nepalis killed during its war with Ukraine through the Nepali Embassy in Moscow. The compensation will later be sent to Kathmandu and distributed among the families of those killed.

According to official records, a total 14 Nepali nationals have so far died in the war. However, officials and individuals still serving in the Russian Army or those who managed to escape fighting have claimed that the number of Nepali casualties could be much higher than reported.

“We have been informed by the Russian authorities that they will provide the compensation through the Nepali Embassy in Moscow,” said Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier, the Russian authorities had told Nepali officials that the families of the deceased should travel to Russia to collect the compensation.

“Once the Russian side provides the compensation to the Nepali Embassy in Moscow, it will be forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then dispatched to home districts of each of the deceased.”

Rai said that earlier the Russian side had insisted that the families of the deceased travel to Moscow to get the compensation.

“We explained to them the difficulties involved in travelling to Russia and finally reached an agreement to have the compensation provided to our embassy in Moscow,” said a senior official at the Department of Consular Affairs that oversees matters related to deaths of the Nepali citizens abroad.

“The Russian authorities had insisted that at least one member of each family should travel to Russia to receive the compensation, but we told them that in other parts of the world, compensation is deposited and distributed through the respective Nepali embassy. They then agreed to provide the compensation through Nepal’s Moscow embassy.”

Nepali officials have yet to determine how to receive and distribute the compensation. They say those killed in the war may get up to Rs15 million, including compensation and insurance. If the deceased has no insurance, each family will likely receive only around Rs7.3 million.

It is not known how many Nepali nationals have joined the Russian Army in personal capacity. According to a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in early January, Russia provides citizenship to foreign nationals who fight for Russia in Ukraine and to their families.

Another decree states that the Russian government would pay five million rubles ($68,800) as compensation to the families of the Russian soldiers killed in the war with Ukraine and three million rubles ($41,300) would be given to those injured during the war in compensation.

During a recent interview with the Post, Foreign Minister NP Saud had said that Russia had initially suggested sending family members to Russia to receive the compensation, but the Nepali side told them that the idea would not be practical.

During his recent visit to the Ugandan capital of Kampala, Saud met with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vershinin Sergey Vasilievich on the sidelines of the 19th Non-Aligned Summit. The two leaders are said to have discussed several issues and concerns related to Nepal.

Nepal has formally requested Russia not to recruit Nepali nationals into its military, and if any have been recruited, to repatriate them. Also, the government asked Russia to repatriate the bodies of Nepalis killed in the war and promptly provide compensation to the bereaved families.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent two back-to-back diplomatic notes to Moscow seeking details on the status of the Nepali nationals serving in the Russian Army, including those killed and wounded.

But, according to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia has been silent on Nepal’s demand for compensation for those injured in the war. One Nepali national managed to escape the war and underwent treatment in Kathmandu.

According to a decree issued by the Russian president, those injured in the war would receive three million rubles (around Rs4.3 million). But Nepali officials said there has been no communication from the Russian side regarding compensation for Nepalis injured in the war.

Meanwhile, over 200 family members have registered complaints seeking safe return of their loved ones serving in the Russian Army, according to officials at the Department of Consular Affairs.

The government has imposed a ban on travel to Russia and Ukraine, except for official purposes.

Published on: 14 February 2024 | The Kathmandu Post