Russian government has debunked claims that African students, including Nigerians, are being recruited to fight in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in exchange for foreign visas.
According to a statement released by the Russian authorities, there is no truth to the allegations, and the country is not engaging in any such recruitment practices.
The government emphasized its commitment to maintaining good relations with African nations, including Nigeria, and respecting the safety and well-being of international students studying in Russia.
This is following Bloomberg’s Monday report, which stated that Russia purportedly sought to enlist thousands of migrants and foreign students to reinforce its troops in the war against Ukraine, adopting tactics similar to those employed by the Wagner mercenary group.
On Wednesday Russian government refuted this claims and labelled it fake news.
According to the embassy’s statement, no association of Nigerian students in Russia has confirmed the allegations. Nigerian students reportedly face no difficulties in extending their visas while pursuing their studies in Russia.
The statement read, “The Embassy of the Russian Federation is compelled to emphasise that such news is not only false but also damages Russian-Nigerian educational cooperation by misleading numerous scholarship and grant applicants as well as their partners, who could be extremely concerned by such fakes.
“The Embassy states that Nigerian students face no difficulties in extending their visas while continuing their studies in Russia. Numerous associations of Nigerian students in Russia have not reported any issues in obtaining the necessary documentation to continue their stay in the country.
“The Embassy welcomes the official press release of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter and expresses gratitude to the Ministry and the Association of Nigerian Students in Moscow for their efforts in debunking the fake news aimed at undermining the friendship and cooperation between Russia and Nigeria.”
