To
Mr. Shisir Khanal
Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal

Honourable Minister, Mr. Shisir Khanal Ji,

We, the Dr. Sandesh Lamsal Foundation, write with concern and unyielding hope to request the safe and immediate return of several Nepali citizens who have been held captive in Ukraine for more than two and a half years.

One such citizen travelled to the Russian Federation on 10 October 2022 on a valid student visa to pursue higher studies while undertaking part-time employment. As the conflict intensified, his employment opportunities ceased entirely. Despite persistent efforts to secure alternative work, he was dismissed from successive positions within days, leaving him in severe financial distress.

Faced with mounting loans and the critical medical condition of his father, whose both kidneys had failed and who required an urgent transplant, he made the profoundly difficult decision in July 2023 to enlist in the Russian army. No member of his family ever encouraged or instructed him to take this step; the decision was driven solely by acute economic pressure and the desperate need to support his ailing parent.

He was deployed to the front lines in late August 2023 and was captured by Ukrainian forces between 15 and 20 September 2023. Shortly thereafter, Ukrainian journalist Mr. Volodymyr Zolkin contacted the family through WhatsApp and shared video evidence confirming the capture. Mr. Zolkin further indicated that the Ukrainian authorities were prepared to negotiate the individual’s release with the Government of Nepal through official diplomatic channels.

The citizen in question is currently believed to be held in Camp 1, Kyiv. He has remained in captivity for over two and a half years, during which time the family has received no verified information regarding his health or welfare. The family has repeatedly approached various offices of the Government of Nepal, senior politicians, and high-level authorities, including at Singha Durbar and Baluwatar, yet after more than two and a half years, no substantive progress has been achieved.

In addition to the above case, several videos from the Ukrainian media have confirmed that at least six other Nepali citizens are in similar circumstances:

• Bibek Khatri (Bardia)
• Siddharth Dhakal (Kavre)
• Vikas Rai (Morang)
• Prateik Pun Magar (Rolpa)
• Sujan Subedi (Chitwan)
• Ishwar Lamichhane (Makwanpur / Gorkha)
• Madan Kumal (Gorkha)

We respectfully urge you to extend every possible diplomatic assistance to facilitate the prompt release of these Nepali nationals on humanitarian grounds. We further request that this matter be raised through appropriate channels with the Government of Russia and Ukraine to enable negotiations, or, if necessary, at relevant international forums, including the United Nations. The fate of these young Nepali citizens, who found themselves in this situation through circumstances beyond their control, now rests upon compassionate and constructive diplomatic engagement.

We trust in your dedication to justice and humanitarian principles and look forward to your valued support in resolving this pressing humanitarian issue.

Ganesh Lamsal
(Chairperson)