Indian MP’s Russia visit includes key dialogues, a new RT documentary, and fresh momentum for India’s strategic diplomacy.
Indian Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor’s diplomatic engagement in Russia this week gained significant traction, as he met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other key leaders during the prestigious Primakov Readings forum. The interactions signalled renewed momentum in Indo-Russian ties, discussions on reviving the long-stalled RIC (Russia-India-China) troika, and reinforced India’s tough stance on terrorism and cross-border threats.
On Wednesday, Tharoor, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, posted on social media about his meeting with Lavrov, calling him an “old friend” and sharing photos of the engagement. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Primakov Readings, an annual international forum dedicated to foreign policy and global strategic issues.
Addressing the gathering, Lavrov underscored the need to restore the work of the RIC troika—an informal grouping conceived by the late Yevgeny Primakov to foster trilateral cooperation between Russia, India, and China.
On the sidelines of the Primakov Readings, Lavrov underscored the need to restore the work of the RIC troika—an informal grouping conceived by the late Yevgeny Primakov to foster trilateral cooperation between Russia, India, and China.
“Now, given the reports that these escalations are easing, we expect that the work of RIC will be restored,” Lavrov said, referring to recent border tensions between India and China. He acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical friction had interrupted the troika’s meetings, but added that conditions were improving for dialogue to resume.
Lavrov also praised the strategic partnership with India, noting the historical significance of Primakov’s legacy in shaping multipolar diplomacy. The forum saw participation from global diplomats, scholars, and public figures, adding weight to the call for renewed multilateral cooperation.
Meanwhile, a video of Tharoor’s meeting with Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky went viral on social media. Slutsky, who heads the Duma Committee on International Affairs and leads the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, discussed plans to host the seventh edition of a major anti-terrorism conference next year. Countries such as Turkey, Iran, India, Pakistan, and China are expected to attend.
Tharoor welcomed the initiative but made it clear that Pakistan’s inclusion remains contentious due to its long-standing record of sheltering terrorist organisations.
“There is a country that unfortunately provides safe haven for these terrorist groups… They fund them, arm them, and send them to other countries,” Tharoor said, directly calling out Islamabad’s role in cross-border terrorism.
The two lawmakers also exchanged views on other pressing geopolitical issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, and simmering tensions in South Asia. Regional security in Asia and inter-parliamentary cooperation under the BRICS umbrella were also discussed, as confirmed by Russian media outlet RT.
Beyond his diplomatic meetings, Tharoor is also preparing to step into the media spotlight with a new 10-part historical documentary series for Russia’s state broadcaster RT, titled Imperial Receipts. The series, which will simultaneously air on RT and RT India, aims to explore the legacies of colonialism through a post-colonial Indian lens.
Announced during his appearance on RT’s Sanchez Effect, Tharoor explained that the programme will draw heavily from his acclaimed literary works, including An Era of Darkness and India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond. He revealed that the show is currently in production, with an official release date yet to be announced.
Tharoor’s RT collaboration marks a rare instance of an Indian parliamentarian and public intellectual working closely with Russian state media at a time when global information ecosystems remain highly polarised due to the Ukraine conflict.
His Moscow visit also follows his leadership of the all-party Operation Sindhoor delegation, which visited the United States and other countries earlier this year in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The outreach campaign was aimed at reinforcing India’s commitment to fighting terrorism and projecting national unity on international platforms.
Upon his return from that tour, Tharoor had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him on the delegation’s engagements and the feedback from foreign governments and civil society actors.
As Russia looks to reinforce older partnerships amid shifting global alignments, Tharoor’s presence in Moscow reflects New Delhi’s continuing efforts to maintain strategic balance—engaging simultaneously with the West and long-standing allies like Russia, even as it asserts a firm voice on terrorism and regional security.
