Police have arrested six people demonstrating in front of the Russian Embassy in Kathmandu on Monday.

The arrested are Kritu Bhandari, Sirani Gharti Magar, Usha Khatri, Roji Pun, Devendra Bhatt and Mohan Bhatt.

They protested in front of the embassy demanding repatriation of Nepalis serving in the Russian army.

The kin of Nepalis in the Russian force have been staging a hunger strike in Kathmandu for the past 11 days. They started their strike at Maitighar Mandala and then moved to Bhrikutimandap.

The victims' family members have also forwarded a 13-point demand to the government including the safe repatriation of the Nepalis serving in the Russian army, compensation and treatment to those who were injured in the war, safe evacuation of five Nepalis who were taken hostage by the Ukrainian army, repatriating the dead bodies of those killed in the war, dignified compensation as fixed by the Russian government, and finding out the whereabouts of those who have gone missing while fighting for the Russian army.

The family members have also demanded the numbers and details of Nepalis serving in the Russian army be released and action taken against the middlemen and fixers who lured them to join the Russian army.

The victims’ kin also demand that all kinds of facilities, perks and remuneration that the Nepali nationals will get from the Russian army be paid from Nepal and that a minister-level mechanism be formed to carry out rescue, relief and rehabilitation works.

As many as 295 people have registered complaints at the Department of Consular Services seeking repatriation of their relatives serving in the Russian army whose whereabouts are not known.

Published on: 30 April 2024 | The Kathmandu Post