Two Iranian students have been brutally arrested in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan, where the recent BRICS summit took place. Originally, they just wanted to extend their visa for the semester abroad at university…
If you study in Russia as a foreigner, the educational institution usually takes care of annoying bureaucratic matters, such as the fairly complex visa extension. Unsuspectingly, two Iranian students approached the responsible cabinet of Kazan University for precisely this reason. However, there they were beaten in an “inhumane” manner, IRNA reported, citing a statement from the Iranian consulate in Kazan.
Semester abroad with pitfalls
It is still unclear why the situation had to escalate to such an extent. It is suspected that the students were literally harassed by bureaucratic demands. In general, the agency responsible for foreign students is not characterized by efficient work, writes the Russian online portal ‘Echo’. The BRICS summit only made matters worse, with many international students unable to return to Russia until November and having to queue from 2am for an appointment to complete their documents. Some didn’t even succeed. They had to sign an agreement forcing them to return to their country of origin and wait again for an invitation for their visa.
Police in Kazan simply stated on the online service Telegram that a dispute between students had escalated and that officers had subsequently arrested the “instigators.” According to the Regional Investigative Committee in Kazan, two foreign citizens have been arrested for “using force against a government official.”
The arrest was caught on camera:
Tehran was angry
Iran then angrily sent a “protest note” to the Russian Foreign Ministry condemning the “violent treatment of Iranian students by the police,” Iran’s IRNA news agency reported on Saturday. The two were released on Friday evening after the consulate intervened. Tehran reportedly demanded an explanation for the incident.
Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Qasem Jalali even said on X that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had repeatedly addressed the incident. In another post, the ambassador condemned “any misconduct against Iranian students” and called for responsible Russian authorities to be held accountable. The escalation is somewhat surprising given that Russia and Iran are de facto allies.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
