WINDHOEK – Government will evacuate Namibian students studying in Ukraine if the unrest in Ukraine jeopardises their safety.
Although there are over 200 Namibians studying in Ukraine only 67 are registered with the Namibian Embassy in Moscow in Russia.
“As for now those students that have registered with the embassy in Moscow are safe. But if it is moving to the situation where it gets dangerous, we will evacuate our children,” said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peya Mushelenga.
Mushelenga said Namibia’s Ambassador to Russia, Ndali Kamata, assured him on Monday that Namibian students were safe in Ukraine.
New Era understands close to 70 Namibians are studying at the Crimea State Medical University.
Protests broke out recently after President Yanukovych’s government rejected a far-reaching agreement with the European Union in November 2013 in favour of stronger ties with Russia.
The rejection outraged Ukrainians who wanted integration with Europe, which led to peaceful demonstrations that turned violent.
Following Russia’s involvement in the crisis, UK-based newspaper The Telegraph reported on Tuesday that three pipelines which carry gas across Ukraine to Poland and Slovakia and on to the EU from Russia is one of the reasons that prompted Russia to deploy thousands of troops across Crimea to seize de facto control of the territory.
President Yanukovych has since fled to Russia after claiming that his life was under threat.
“Trade sanctions are unpopular among European countries, which are heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas. Europe gets 40 per cent of its natural gas from Russia. Germany is particularly reluctant to get into a sanctions war since it imports more than a third of its oil and gas from Russia,” reported the Telegraph.
Crimea relies on Ukraine for much of its electricity, and Europe relies on Russia for about 25 percent of its natural gas. Natural gas sent from Russia to Europe travels through pipelines that snake across the Ukraine.
By Mathias Haufiku