Russian authorities have indicated to their Sri Lankan counterparts that a number of Sri Lankan ex-servicemen who travelled to the country are currently members of the Russian armed forces and are engaged in combat, The Daily Morning reliably learns.
The confirmation comes following a high-level meeting between Russian authorities and a group of diplomats from the Sri Lankan mission in Moscow last Thursday (30 May) evening, a senior government official close to the matter disclosed to The Daily Morning. During a press conference last week, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya told the media that Sri Lanka would approach the said meeting with an aim of getting clarification on if Sri Lankan ex-servicemen are indeed part of the Russian armed forces and to explore options to see them removed from front line service. Sri Lanka had also wanted to seek information on casualties and possible repatriation of wounded Sri Lankan nationals.
“Basically, it is now certain that they were recruited by the Russian government forces, and not a PMC (Private Military Contractor) like Wagner. They (Russian authorities) have confirmed the presence of Sri Lanka ex-servicemen in their fighting formations and that they are in it (combat). They have said that those who are there have signed agreements and they are bound by them. So, they have said our chaps can’t desert their posts and leave as they wish. Such moves have to be approved by the Russian military command,” the senior government official told The Daily Morning.
Many of the nearly 1,000 (known) Sri Lankan ex-servicemen who were scammed into travelling to Russia, under the pretext of being employed for administrative and logistic duties, have been pushed into front line combat on the Ukrainian front, with a number of injuries reported. Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that 16 Sri Lankans who have travelled to Russia under such pretext are believed to be ‘missing’, with a hotline established on the issue receiving nearly 460 complaints thus far about Lankans in Russian service, and one about a Sri Lankan in the service of Ukrainian forces.
Last week, Russian Ambassador to Colombo Levan Dzhagaryan fronted the press in Colombo with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, where he strongly claimed that he was not aware of the type of agreements which the Sri Lankan ex-servicemen had signed to seek employment with Russian forces. He said he was awaiting information from Moscow and could not speak to the legality of such agreements. Dzhagaryan stressed that the Russian embassy in Colombo was not aware of such agreements when granting visas for the hundreds of Sri Lankans who have found their way into the ranks of the Russian armed forces. When asked about Russia’s policy on mercenaries fighting for them, Dzhagaryan stated that the Russian Government did not have an issue with ‘volunteers’ joining their ranks, pointing out that Ukraine had thousands of foreigners amongst their ranks.
It is learnt that many of those who made the journey to Russia, after getting a visit visa from the Russian embassy in Colombo, had signed an agreement which was drafted in English and did not specify they have to engage in combat duties. Many who did sign it have been promised Russian citizenship, pay in US dollars and the prospects of getting their families over, after a while. However, it is learnt that upon arriving in Russia, they have had to sign a Russian language Military Service contract, which had enlisted them into Russian armed forces service, and thereby are placed under Russian federal law and military law. As such, a quick repatriation of those in front line service in Russian seems a distant proposition at this stage. It learnt that some elements of the domestic law enforcement agencies who are investigating the scam and those arrested linked to it, view the scam as one that fits the ‘human trafficking’ category due to the misinformation and failure to inform the employee of the status and nature of the work he or she is travelling for. However, investigations are still ongoing and are in early stages.
A high-power Sri Lankan government delegation led by State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya was making plans to travel to Russia this week (5). During the Press conference Balasuriya said they were awaiting a confirmation of appointments from Moscow to meet with senior Russian diplomats and defence officials. However, it is now learnt Russia has not approved the meeting sought for this week, and that instead has given an appointment for the 26 June, a move a senior diplomat called ‘a delaying tactic’. Due to the change in appointments, Sri Lanka will have to reschedule the travel plans of the delegation.
“One victory for us, is that we have got them (Russia) to agree that they will screen our combat aged men when they apply for a travel visa. This will essentially stem the flow to Russia of our ex-servicemen. But getting back those who have already gone, will be a challenging task,” the diplomat opined.
