Indian community in Russia shocked at Solomein's conviction
The Indian business community in Russia has decided to take up the matter of a Russian citizen's overstay in Goa, being termed as ''offence against the nation'' by a local court, with the Indian ambassador in Moscow.
Indian Business Alliance's (IBA) Secretary Abbas Syed Maseem said his week they will call on the Ambassador and discuss the conviction of a Russian in Goa, which may have repercussions for Indians back in Moscow.
IBA is a platform to guide Indian businessmen in Russia as well as new comers who are in Moscow for trade purposes.
"Russian authorities always treat Indians here as their friends.. To my knowledge there was no case in Russia where on over stay, someone was sentenced for crime against nation, in fact there are thousands of examples where we through the IBA platform helped Indians for their visa issues," Maseem told PTI through an email interview.
Fourty-year-old Aleksandr Solomein was arrested in Goa and sentenced for one year imprisonment for overstaying in the state. Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mapusa, awarding penalty for the offence had termed his act as an "offence against the nation."
Solomein's family has taken up matter with Russian consulate in Mumbai objecting to the court's contention that their kin had done any offence against the nation.
IBA, which has been working to bridge any gap between Indian businessmen in Russia and local authorities in Moscow, has termed the court observations as "shocking".
Maseem said that such observations will breed lot of negativity towards Indians and India as a whole.
"What if Russian authorities behave in same manner with thousands of Indians who are in Moscow?," he questioned.
Goa, which is losing on the international tourism market, has seen increasing number of Russians visiting here making up, partially, for the loses.
An official figure estimates that out of three-lakh odd foreign tourists which visited Goan beaches last year, 40,000 were Russians.
Vikram Varma, the representative for the Russian consulate, when contacted stated that such an observation was a matter of concern.
"To the best of my knowledge, Russia is a time tested friend and ally of India, that is what is felt by the grassroots in Russia too. They love India and we must reciprocate the courtesies their citizens and authorities provide to us."
