Goa voices concern over colonisation attempts by Russian

During a meeting with officials from Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, Parrikar appealed that the Russian government should tell its citizens to desist from monopolising certain segements of the state.

Consul-General Alexey A Novikov, after talks, conceded that the issue about colonisation was raised by Parrikar. "He had a valid point that sign-boards cannot be exclusively in Russian. They should also be in the local language as the establishments are based in Goa," the Consul-General said.

Novikov said that the Chief Minister told them that Russian citizens will enjoy all the rights under international laws, but violation of any local law will not be tolerated. The Russians are usually found staying at the beach villages like Morjim, Calangute, Arambol and Anjuna.

"Like all other foreign citizens in Goa, Russians are entitled to all rights and freedom under international and national law provided they abide by the Indian law," Novikov said, adding that Russians should be held liable if they are found responsible for any offence.

He said all cases involving Russian nationals in Goa are widely covered by various print and digital Russian mass-media. "Due to huge number of Russian nationals in Goa the government of Russia is constantly monitoring these cases and the overall environment in the state," the Consul General said.

The Russian government has also moved a file to set up honourary consulate in Goa on lines with the one in Hyderabad and Kerala. Novikov said the file for setting up of a honourary consul has been pending with the Indian ministry of external affairs since April .