The Foreign Affairs Ministry continues to liaise with the Public Service Ministry to support Guyanese students in Russia amid the growing tension as a result of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
During an interview with this publication on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud indicated that all of the students are stationed in Moscow, Russia, and that no one is in danger.
“The students are managed by the Public Service Ministry, and they have a network in which they are in touch with the students on a daily basis…We are working very closely with the Public Service Ministry with the support that they require. At this point in time, the students aren’t in danger. We know they’re in Moscow. We have no student in the Ukraine that we know of,” said Persaud.
This publication had reported that 11 students are currently in Russia, and there was no report of any being in Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary had stated a few days ago that there is an established mechanism in place for Guyanese students who are affected by the crisis to reach out to the Guyana Government for help.
Russia’s military invaded Ukraine on Thursday, launching by land, sea and air attacks that targeted Ukrainian bases and several major cities, including its Capital – Kyiv. Latest reports on Saturday indicated that a curfew was instituted in Kyiv, with Ukrainian authorities ordering citizens to stay indoors until Monday morning.
Information from the BBC has indicated that Russian has fired more than 250 missiles, mostly short-range, at Ukrainian targets. Some of these hit civilian infrastructure.
In other developments, Ukraine has said it repulsed an attack on the city of Kharkiv after heavy fighting. Casualties are on the rise, with 198 Ukrainians killed as at Saturday.
Airports have been closed, but the UN estimates that 120,000 individuals have fled the country within two days.
Meanwhile, Russia has said that it managed to capture the southern city of Melitopol. It is estimated that Russia’s initial assault involved about half of the more-than-150,000 troops it had massed on the border in the run-up to the invasion.
Condemning the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty
Guyana’s Foreign Secretary added on Saturday that the country stands by its position that was shared on Thursday in condemning the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
A statement from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration had expressed, “The Government of Guyana deplores the threat or use of force in the conduct of international relations, and urges a peaceful resolution of the differences that currently exist, in consonance with the rule of international law and the provisions of the United Nations Charter.”
The Organization of American States (OAS), of which Guyana is also a member, has also called for the immediate cessation of the hostilities that were irresponsibly initiated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Caricom has shared similar sentiments.
Russia’s act of aggression has been described by Western neighbours as “a dark day for Europe.” In response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, major global leaders have announced widespread sanctions against the Vladimir Putin-headed Russia.
Guyana, through the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry, has been engaging its hemispheric neighbours to discuss the stability of the region in light of the current crisis.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd held a series of teleconferences with his counterparts from South American nations. He spoke with Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Alberto Franco França, and the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia, Marta Lucía Ramírez. Russian Ambassador Alexander Kurmaz was also engaged.
