By Iran filed a formal protest with Moscow Saturday over what it called the “violent” and “inhumane” arrest of two Iranian students at Kazan Federal University, an incident threatening to strain relations between the typically close allies.
The students were arrested Friday at the university’s visa extension center after allegedly being subjected to “inhumane and unprofessional beating” by police, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing a consular statement. The students were released later that evening following intervention from Iranian diplomatic officials.
“A protest note” has been submitted to the Russian Foreign Ministry condemning the “violent treatment of the Iranian students by the police,” IRNA reported. Iran, one of Russia’s closest international partners, has demanded explanations for the incident.
Kazan police offered a different account, stating via Telegram that officers had “detained the instigators” of a physical altercation between students, without specifying nationalities. The regional Investigative Committee reported arresting two foreign nationals for allegedly “using violence against a representative of the authority.”
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi has “repeatedly” followed up on the situation, according to Kazem Jalali, Tehran’s ambassador to Moscow, who posted updates on social media platform X. “Any sort of misbehavior with Iranian students” is unacceptable, Jalali wrote, demanding accountability from “the responsible Russian authorities.”
VOA
