Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, currently facing internal criticism within his party, is on a private visit to Russia to promote a 10-part documentary based on his 2017 book Inglorious Empire. During the trip, he met senior Russian leaders including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to people familiar with the matter.
The documentary, produced by Russia’s state-run RT network, draws from Tharoor’s acclaimed 2015 Oxford Union speech on British colonial reparations. He arrived in Russia on June 21, attending the St Petersburg Economic Forum before moving to Moscow.
High-Level Meetings and Diaspora Outreach
On June 23, Tharoor met Leonid Slutsky, chair of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, and interacted with members of the Indian diaspora at the Indian Embassy. He held further talks on June 24 with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the Primakov Readings, an annual forum on international relations and economics.
On Wednesday, Tharoor also met Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house, and engaged with the Malayalee diaspora in Russia.
Talks on Terrorism, India-Russia Ties and Middle East Conflicts
While in Moscow, Tharoor briefed Russian officials on India’s counter-terrorism efforts, especially Operation Sindoor—a cross-border operation targeting terror infrastructure after the Pahalgam attack. He also discussed India-Russia relations, the Iran-Israel conflict, and the Gaza crisis.
RT said his meeting with Slutsky covered “pressing international issues, including Middle East conflicts, the Ukraine crisis, and India-Pakistan tensions.”
Slutsky emphasized India’s role in BRICS and called for a parliamentary mechanism within the bloc. “India is a key member of BRICS… we must start discussions on a parliamentary dimension,” he said.
Tharoor responded:
“Good to renew my acquaintance with my Russian counterpart… We exchanged views on regional peace, #OperationSindoor and possible avenues of future parliamentary cooperation.”
Congress Row Over Modi Praise Shadows Russia Visit
Tharoor’s Russia visit comes amid a political controversy in India. A recent article praising PM Modi and India’s diplomatic strategy during Operation Sindoor—shared by the PMO—drew criticism from Congress leaders.
Without naming him, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge remarked, “For the party, it is country first; for some individuals, it is Modi first.”
In a seeming reply, Tharoor posted: “Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one…”
Tharoor’s Documentary Set to Explore Colonial Exploitation
The RT-produced docuseries based on Inglorious Empire explores the impact of British colonialism on India. It is expected to air in the third quarter of this year and will trace the trajectory and aftermath of colonial rule.
Tharoor has previously served as part of a government-led delegation to 33 countries to explain India’s shift in counter-terrorism policy under Operation Sindoor.
