Russian citizen protesting Ukraine war picked up by police in Odisha

While the death of two Russian tourists in Odisha’s Rayagada under mysterious circumstances has shaken the entire nation, a Russian citizen was picked up by the Government Railway Police (GRP) while demonstrating in front of Bhubaneswar Railway Station on Saturday.

As per reports, the Russian citizen had a placard in which he had sought help stating that he is homeless and against the war (Russia-Ukraine war). The placard displayed by the demonstrator, mentioned that he is against President Vladimir Putin. 

Police said he came to India on a tourist visa, which has now expired. As he does not have money, he was begging for help at the railway station. As he cannot understand English, no one is able to communicate with him in Russian, informed sources. 

After getting information about him, GRP officials detained him for inquiry about the purpose of his visit to India and his problems.

The Russian citizen holds a valid passport but failed to produce a visa. For further interrogation, the GRP later handed over the Russian citizen to the special branch.

“He is a national of the Russian Federation. Andrew Glagolev, aged 58, resides in Moscow. He has been residing in Indian since 2016 and he holds a valid passport. He had a six-month visa. Subsequently, he applied for asylum in India to concerned authorities in the United Nations. The proposal is under consideration and on that ground, he is residing in India,” said Jayadev Biswajeet, IIC, Government Railway Police Station.

Further, he went on to add “As informed by him, he has been in Odisha for three months and mostly he stayed in Puri during that time. He has produced some documents. We are verifying his claims and the documents. As per the documents, his stay in India is legal. But, we cannot say anything until verifying the authenticity of the documents.”