Puri: A Russian citizen, who was found begging near Srimandir a few days ago, boarded the Purusottam Express Thursday to reach Delhi.
Sources said Andrei Glagolev has expressed his desire to reside in India as a refugee and submitted an application in this regard to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in New Delhi.
Glagolev had reportedly left Russia after facing atrocities for worshipping Lord Shiva. He, subsequently, left Russia and arrived in India. He was spotted him seeking alms near Srimandir in Puri December 9.
The district administration rescued Glagolev December 10 after reports regarding the Russian citizen were published in a section of media. The administration had sent Glagolev to a shelter house after Singhdwar police examined his identity, address, passport and visa.
“The Russian citizen had come to India on a tourist visa. We took steps to provide him food and shelter. The administration has arranged a train ticket to Delhi for him. Besides, Glagolev has been provided with Rs 4,300 to meet his requirement,” a senior Tourism department official, Bijay Kumar Jena, said.
According to sources, the UNHCR has asked the Russian citizen to depose before it January 8. “We have talked to officials at the Russian embassy and they have promised to do the needful to send Glagolev to Russia if the UNHCR rejects his application,” Jena added.
Glagolev, meanwhile, thanked the state government and the district administration for their help. “I have planned to reside in Puri if the UNHCR accepts my plea for a refugee status in India,” said Glagolev while boarding the train.
PNN
