The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has refuted claims that Nigerian students are being conscripted to fight for Russia in the Ukraine conflict in exchange for visa renewals.
A report by Bloomberg alleged that Russia would not renew the visas of African students and young workers unless they agreed to join its military efforts against Ukraine.
However, the Russian Embassy has dismissed this report as fake news.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, the embassy asserted that the report aims to undermine the friendship and cooperation between Russia and Nigeria.
"The Embassy of the Russian Federation emphasizes that such news is false and harms Russian-Nigerian educational cooperation by misleading scholarship and grant applicants and their partners," the statement read.
The embassy clarified that Nigerian students in Russia face no difficulties in extending their visas and that no students have confirmed these allegations.
"Nigerian students face no issues in extending their visas while continuing their studies in Russia. Numerous associations of Nigerian students in Russia have not reported any problems in obtaining the necessary documentation to continue their stay," the statement continued.
The embassy also acknowledged the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Association of Nigerian Students in Moscow for their efforts in debunking the false news intended to damage the relationship between Russia and Nigeria.
Similarly, the Nigerian Federal Government has labeled the report as "false and misleading."
On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, stated that there have been no reported cases of any Nigerian or other African students being enlisted to join the war.
The Ministry urged media outlets to verify information before publishing to ensure accuracy and prevent the spread of misinformation.
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