from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Jul 10: The Consulate General for Russian Federation is considering issuing of adverse travel advisory for its citizens visiting Goa.

The consulate's action follows an incident of alleged assault on Russian ladies – one of them owning hotel at Calangute in North Goa. Police have already arrested two locals involved in the assault.

"We are most sure that such incidents do harm the image of Goa in Russia on the threshold of coming tourist season and may initiate considering a possibility of preparing some recommendations or travel advisory for Russian tourists who want to visit Goa," acting consul general Irina K Bashkirova has said in the letter written to Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat.

Goa attracts around four lac foreign tourists annually of which Russians count for second highest. The UK tourists are biggest chunk of foreigners who descend on the sandy Goan beaches to soak in the sun.

The Russian consulate is reportedly disturbed over the incident that happened in the last week of June when brother-sister duo – Joseph and Jenniffer Coutinho – allegedly assaulted 28-year-old Russian lady Oxana Chernetsova and another lady.

Chernetsova is running a hotel in Calangute and she had lodged complaint with the local police alleging that brother-sister duo abused Russians calling them as 'prostitutes' and asked them to 'get out of India.'

"It is our concern that the Russian citizens were assaulted on the basis of national and racial intolerance," the consul general has said.

The Russian consulate on earlier occasion had raised concern about safety of its citizen in the state after few cases of assault were reported.

"Referring to our previous letters the consulate general expresses its concern upon the security situation in Goa that may endanger the safety and health of Russian nationals," the letter says.

Goa authorities, however, denied the allegation of 'racial abuse' against the Russians.

"Allegations of racial abuse are absolutely false. Whenever there are cases of assault, we investigate into them and culprits are booked," superintendent of police (North) Bosco George said.

The police, on the other hand, point out to the involvement of Russians in Goa's crime scenario.

"There are cases booked by crime branch against Russians for their involvement in running prostitution racket and also drug related offences," George said.