Nepal and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations in Jun 9e-July 1956. Agreements on free aid for the construction of power lines, sugar mills, cigarette factories, highways, hospitals, agricultural machinery plants were signed in April and April1959, 1964 for the economic and technological development of Nepal. Russia has made great contributions to education.

Nepal gained diplomatic recognition after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. A lot has happened in the last 33 years. 

In October 2005, the foreign ministers discussed political, economic, military, educational and cultural cooperation exchanges. Russia has an embassy in Kathmandu and Nepal has an embassy in Moscow.

The current controversy is about the recruitment of Nepali citizens as mercenaries in the Russian army. Nepal has asked Nepal to stop recruitment in the Russian army, not to send back the recruits, and to compensate those who were killed.

The bridges built with the help of Russia on the East-West Highway in the 1972s are a symbol of friendship. In the 1956, Russia was at the peak of its development, ready to fly into space 40 years after the October Revolution. In the same year, Nepal and Russia established diplomatic relations. Despite some controversies, this relationship has stood on a strong pillar. The intellectual level of thousands of Nepalis has been raised by the scholarship given by Russia since 1957. Russian-educated specialists are serving in Nepal.

Russia is a major contributor to Nepal's modernization process. Kanti Hospital in 1963, Birgunj Sugar Factory in 1964, Panauti Hydropower Station in 1965, Janakpur Cigarette Factory in 1968, Agricultural Tool Factory, Rosin and Turpentine in 1987 were the gifts of the Russian people. All major industries have been closed since 2003.

Russia was the first nation to support King Mahendra's call to help build the East-West Highway in 1970. Ivan Goncharov, a Soviet engineer, cried when he heard of the massive earthquake in Nepal in 2015. He was a keen observer of Nepal's temples, temple ruins, wood art, and supernatural archaeological objects. 

Ivan Gancharov is also a writer. He said that Nepal is a beautiful country. ... "" "The green mountain of the Himalayan arms stretching from east to west through the small window of the plane left the first impression of Nepal in my mind." After the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Nepal, we Soviet engineers had the opportunity to work in this state located in the farthest corner of the world. The group of boys from the local village at the project site was really great. It was easy to work with them. Although poverty is widespread, Nepal is a country of happy people. All are hardworking, open-minded and cheerful. "

Goncharov writes that traffic was conducted on the Simra-Janakpur road in late December 1972. The opening ceremony was attended by the King of Nepal, Soviet Ambassador Boris Kironsovsky, the chief engineer of the construction project Pavel Kravchov and all the Nepalese and Russians involved in the construction. The Nepalese congratulated us by showering flowers all over the road, garlanded us and also gave some gifts.

In the 1990s, both countries were on the brink of change. There was a lull in the relationship. The two countries signed a trade agreement in 2011. Russian tourists have been increasing in Nepal. Lumbini and the Himalayas were an attraction for the Russians. Russia helped Nepal during the 2015 earthquake. Russia has built a Buddhist temple in Lumbini. Russia is offering 250 scholarships per year.

Russia respects Nepal's policy of non-alignment. But Nepal's involvement in the anti-Russian camp in the United Nations has hurt Russia's heart.

It is unfortunate to see Nepal on the side of Ukraine in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Nepalese youth have been recruited in the Russian army to fight against Ukraine. Nepalese youth have been recruited as mercenaries. Nepal did not return them, did not know the number of recruits, did not treat the wounded and told the families of the dead about the compensation, but more than once Russia did not listen. The reason for this is the raw diplomacy of Nepal.

From 19-23 April 2023, the President of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, the President of the Federation Council of Russia, the President of the Upper House of Russia, Valentina Matviyenko, the President of the Lower House of Russia, the President of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Chernyshenko, held a special discussion on the 13 projects they want to support Nepal. According to a statement issued by the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly, it was revealed that Russia had sent a proposal to the Government of Nepal for assistance in the construction of the East-West Electric Railway in Kathmandu and the Pokhara-Ridi road connecting Nepal's main tourist destination Pokhara with nearby tourist sites, a children's cancer hospital, scholarships and 13 other various projects. Then on August 21, 2023, the metro project was requested by the Government of Nepal. Nepal had also asked Russia to resume air traffic that was stopped in 2002. Russia also expressed a desire to deliver Russian helicopters useful in mountainous conditions. Nepal has so far not responded to any of these Russian requests. 

After this, the Russian Embassy in Nepal again asked the Government of Nepal to send 13 project proposals on May 4, 2023. Nepal is still undeveloped. The reason for this is due to the imbalance of the non-contiguous legs of Nepal. Will Nepal be trapped in the vortex of geopolitics or will it remain universal?

Now Nepal will not have to wait for the decision.

• Rajan Karki