India, Azerbaijan and Botswana have lodged separate diplomatic complaints with Russia, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service. New Delhi reacted to the missile strike on the dry cargo ship MV Golden Leo as it was leaving the port of Odesa, in which four Indian nationals were killed. Baku protested against the attack on the SOCAR petrol station, whilst Botswana protested against the recruitment of its citizens to fight on Russia’s side in the war against Ukraine.
Briefly about the main points
- India has expressed its concern to Russia following the attack on the MV Golden Leo.
- Four Indian nationals were killed in the attack.
- Baku has sent a note to Moscow regarding the attack on the SOCAR petrol station.
- Botswana has reported that its citizens are being recruited to the Russian Federation under false pretences.
- The SZR described these incidents as evidence that the Kremlin is losing its allies.
India has refuted Russia’s account of the ship’s cargo
According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, India has expressed concern over the Russian cruise missile strike on the MV Golden Leo as it was leaving the Port of Odessa. Four Indian nationals were killed in the attack.
The Indian authorities summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires Volodymyr Ladanov and conveyed to him its grave concern and condemnation of the attack, according to the state broadcaster Akashvani News. Officials in New Delhi emphasised that commercial shipping and seafarers should not be targeted.
Spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Randhir Jaiswal On 24 July, it was reported that the vessel had loaded grain in Odesa on 19 July. This position contradicts the Kremlin’s explanation, which stated its intention to continue striking vessels that Russia considers to be involved in the transport of ammunition or weapons to Ukraine.
Baku is demanding an explanation regarding the attacks on SOCAR
Azerbaijan has handed Moscow a note of protest over the Russian attack on a petrol station belonging to the Azerbaijani company SOCAR in the Mykolaiv region. According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the note was handed to the Russian ambassador on 6 July.
Officials in Baku have stated that this is not the first instance of damage to SOCAR’s assets in Ukraine: previously, the company’s gas distribution compressor station and oil depot in Odesa had been hit or otherwise affected by hostilities. The Azerbaijani side also reported material damage and injuries to staff.
Separately, Baku raised the issue with Russia of damage to the buildings of the Azerbaijani embassy in Kyiv and the honorary consulate in Kharkiv. Azerbaijan called for an investigation, explanations and compliance with international obligations regarding the protection of civilian and diplomatic sites.
Botswana has issued a warning about fraudulent recruitment
Botswana has issued an official statement regarding the «alarming rise in the number of cases of fraudulent recruitment» of its citizens to take part in hostilities on Russia’s side in the war against Ukraine, the Foreign Intelligence Service noted.
Back in March, the country’s authorities reported that they were investigating the cases of two citizens who may have travelled to Russia under the pretext of studying or taking up employment. The government regarded such schemes as possible cases of illegal recruitment or human trafficking and urged citizens to verify any offers of work, study, security or military service abroad through official channels.
Specific complaints do not imply a breakdown in relations
The Foreign Intelligence Service has assessed these three incidents as a sign that the Kremlin is losing allies. At the same time, the cases cited relate to different events and do not indicate a coordinated diplomatic campaign by the three states.
India’s protest relates to the deaths of its citizens and the safety of merchant shipping. For Azerbaijan, the subject of the claims is damage to SOCAR facilities and diplomatic missions in Ukraine, whilst for Botswana it is the protection of its citizens from recruitment schemes.
The focus, therefore, is primarily on compiling specific grievances regarding Russia’s actions. In particular, on 21 July, the Azerbaijani authorities stated that relations with the Russian Federation had «fully normalised», whilst not backing down from their demands for an explanation of the attacks on Azerbaijani targets in Ukraine.
