In response to recent allegations, Russian authorities have firmly denied reports claiming that African students, particularly Nigerians, are being coerced into fighting in the ongoing war with Ukraine in exchange for visa extensions.
The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has labelled these reports as fake news. Bloomberg had previously reported that Russia was allegedly sending thousands of migrants and foreign students, including Nigerians, to fight alongside its troops in exchange for visa renewals.
In a statement released on Wednesday, June 12, the Russian Embassy declared that the claims are entirely unfounded.
“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 statement read.
The Embassy further clarified that Nigerian students face no difficulties in extending their visas while continuing their studies in Russia. It was noted that 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 expressed appreciation for the official press release from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter and thanked the Ministry and the Association of Nigerian Students in Moscow for their efforts in debunking the false news.
The statement emphasised the importance of maintaining the friendship and cooperation between Russia and Nigeria.
