Government urges Jamaican nationals to leave Russia

The Jamaican government is encouraging Jamaican nationals in Russia to take precautionary measures for their safety and leave where necessary in light of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, said that the Government was aware of eight Jamaican students.

"But our team has been receiving anecdotal reports of a higher number who are in Russia," she said yesterday. "Although we understand all of them are well and not experiencing disruptions, we take this opportunity to strongly urge Jamaicans in Russia, or persons who are aware of Jamaicans living in Russia, to provide the relevant contact information and location to the consular affairs department here in Jamaica, and leave where possible before tension rises in that country."

Johnson Smith urged nationals in Russia and other areas of Eastern Europe to "exercise prudence in their activities, and to take precautionary measures for their safety".

"These include, and are not limited to, securing safe passage to alternative locations, securing the necessary resources to do so and establishing relationships with family or friends that may be of assistance, as necessary, in ensuring their security," she said.

Johnson Smith suggested that the nationals should consider providing their contact details to the consular affairs department at: consular@mfaft.gov.jm or consularassistant@mfaft.gov.jm. She said that the ministry and its embassy in Berlin, Germany, continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and Russia.