The Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, HE Levan Dzhagaryan, issued a public statement addressing a recent tweet by former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

In his remarks, Ambassador Dzhagaryan criticized Gayoom's stance on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, suggesting that the former head of state lacks understanding of the situation and should study the reasons behind Russia's "Special Military Operation." He cited NATO’s approach towards Russia and the alleged "neo-Nazi" nature of the Ukrainian government as key reasons for the operation, along with the civilian casualties in Donbass.

Dzhagaryan also pointed out that Russia and Ukraine were close to a peaceful settlement in March 2022, but the talks were disrupted by the U.S. and U.K. The Ambassador further urged Gayoom to refrain from supporting what he described as the West's double standards, calling instead for attention to global conflicts such as the Palestinian crisis.

He concluded by praising the current Maldivian government’s humanitarian stance on the Palestinian issue, contrasting it with Gayoom's position on Ukraine.