Russia hits out at priest deportation

Russia has lodged a strong protest at the treatment allegedly meted out to a Russian priest, who, according to the Russian government, was “deported” from Chennai international airport by Indian immigration authorities. Russia also lambasted what it called was “disrespect shown to a priest from a friendly country” and claimed that the priest, Father Seraphim, was denied basic assistance, including food, despite the requests of the Russian embassy in Delhi and the consulate-general in Chennai.

Moscow also claimed that Russian diplomats were denied access to the priest for seven hours at Chennai airport. The bitterness, ironically, comes just a few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia during which there was a reaffirmation of India’s strategic ties with that country. India has historically had close ties with Russia and previously the Soviet Union. Russia has been providing critical technology to India, particularly in the defence sector, that no other foreign country has ever provided but there have been strains in recent times, primarily over what Russia perceives is India’s strategic shift and increasing proximity to the United States.