Tharoor Visits Russia Amid Congress Row, Meets Lavrov and Promotes RT Documentary.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, currently at the centre of an internal party storm, is on a private visit to Russia to promote a new documentary series based on his bestselling book Inglorious Empire. The visit, however, has also included high-level meetings with Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Tharoor is in Russia at the invitation of state-run broadcaster RT, which has produced a 10-part series adapted from his 2017 book — itself inspired by his viral 2015 Oxford Union speech calling for British reparations to former colonies. The series is expected to air later this year.
Arriving in Russia on June 21, Tharoor first participated in the St. Petersburg Economic Forum before heading to Moscow. On June 23, he met Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the international affairs committee of Russia’s State Duma. That same day, he also engaged with members of the Indian diaspora at the Indian embassy.
On June 24, Tharoor met Lavrov on the sidelines of the Primakov Readings, a high-profile forum on global affairs. A day later, he held talks with Konstantin Kosachev, chair of the upper house’s foreign affairs committee, and also met with the Malayalee community in Moscow.
While the trip’s focus is cultural diplomacy through the documentary project, people familiar with the meetings said Tharoor briefed Russian officials on India’s counterterrorism strategy, including Operation Sindoor, and discussed developments in Gaza, the Iran-Israel conflict, and India-Russia ties.
RT, which is producing the series, noted that during the June 23 meeting with Slutsky, the two discussed “pressing international issues,” including the Middle East crisis, the Ukraine war, and rising tensions in South Asia. Slutsky underscored India’s role in BRICS and proposed expanding its parliamentary dimension.
“Good to renew my acquaintance with Mr. Slutsky,” Tharoor posted on X. “We exchanged views on regional peace, #OperationSindoor and possible avenues of future parliamentary cooperation.”
Tharoor has recently played a diplomatic role in India’s foreign outreach, having led one of seven all-party delegations sent to 33 countries to explain India’s counterterror strategy following the Pahalgam terror attack and the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The timing of his Russia visit has drawn attention back home. Tharoor is currently under fire within the Congress party for a newspaper column that appeared to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global messaging around Operation Sindoor. The article was amplified by the official handle of the PMO, further fuelling internal backlash.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, without naming Tharoor, appeared to rebuke him, saying the Congress puts “country first,” while for some, it’s “Modi first.” Tharoor responded obliquely on social media:
“Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one.”
Comments are closed.