Russia and Seychelles have shared over 140 years of historical ties, a journey that began with early naval visits in the 19th century and evolved into formal diplomatic relations in 1976. This relationship has not remained stagnant but has grown and adapted from cultural and educational exchanges to military cooperation and growing tourism. The nations have united to tackle modern challenges like the pandemic and space exploration, showcasing the dynamic nature of their alliance. The ongoing collaboration, characterised by mutual respect, is poised for further growth following the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit.
In 2021, Russia and Seychelles celebrated 45 years since establishing diplomatic relations. The Seychelles archipelago gained independence from Britain on June 29, 1976, and was recognized by the Soviet Union, a pivotal moment in their history, just the next day. This recognition by the Soviet Union was a testament to the strong ties between the two nations.
However, the ties between our country and the Republic of Seychelles also have a long history that has laid the foundation for their unfailing friendship.
The first contact between the peoples of Russia and the Seychelles took place more than 140 years ago, thanks to the Navy. In the second half of the 19th century, Russian navigators ‘discovered’ the archipelago as a convenient and safe place for mooring, replenishing coal and fresh water, and resting crews. The first ship of the Imperial Russian Navy to call at the Seychelles in June 1881 was the clipper ‘Dzhigit’ under the command of Captain 1st Rank (later Admiral) K.K. Delivron. This early interaction with the Russian Navy played a significant role in shaping the Russia-Seychelles relations, with Russian ships calling regularly and their commanders becoming the first Russian officials to visit the islands, which were then under British colonial administration.
Over the years, starting with K.K. Delivron, Seychelles has been visited by many notable figures of the Russian Navy, such as Admiral L.K. Kologeras, Admiral I.K. Grigorovich (who became the Minister of the Navy of the Russian Empire), Admiral A.I. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Captain 1st Rank K.I. von Dehn (the last commander of the cruiser “Varyag”), and others.
The legendary Russian cruiser “Varyag”, famous for the heroism and stoicism of its crew, was called at the Seychelles in August 1916 as part of a detachment of ships en route from Vladivostok to the Arctic. Without going into the details of this particular voyage, we will only note that the First World War was in full swing, and the mission was as military as diplomatic. In 2021, the Seychelles’ capital, Victoria, celebrated the 105th anniversary of the cruiser’s call, and the Russian side presented the ship’s scale model to the Seychelles National History Museum. President Wavel Ramkalawan attended the events that were covered in detail by the local media.
The Revolution of 1917, followed by the Civil War, temporarily interrupted the Russian presence in the region. It wasn’t until 1942 that two Soviet tankers, “Sakhalin” and “Tuapse”, passed west of the Seychelles during the heroic passagefrom the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, along the way they delivered 15,000 tons of fuel for the Allied “Ironclad” operation in Madagascar.
Epochs have changed, and the Embassy of the USSR was established in the independent Republic of Seychelles. Our country’s first ambassador to Seychelles was H.E. A.K. Startsev (to this day, the Embassy in Victoria has been headed by ten ambassadors).
From the very first years of Seychelles’ independence, the Soviet Union actively contributed to the formation of the young state, helping to overcome the consequences of the colonial period. A series of agreements on cooperation in the spheres of culture, science, trade, and air traffic, among others, was signed between the two countries. In 1979, as part of a large-scale training programme, the first group of students from the island state went to study at various universities in the USSR. Many of the Seychellois who got their education in the USSR later held high positions in the government. Among them is former Vice President (2016– 2020) V. Meriton, who graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1991 and now heads the local Seychelles-Russia Friendship Association.
At the same time, our doctors, teachers, engineers, and sports coaches were sent to the archipelago. They largely contributed to the Republic’s capacity building in diverse areas. The first Olympic Games in which Seychellois participated were the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Soviet specialists also helped create the country’s effective Coast Guard.
Since the 1990s, the Seychelles have become one of Russia’s most popular tourist destinations. In April 2021, after a 17-year break, direct flights between the countries resumed. Due to the regular “Aeroflot” Russian airline flights and the current mutual visa-free regime, Russia has become one of the largest tourist markets for Seychelles, with an average of more than 30,000 travellers per year, thus supporting the local economy.
In 2019, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, then President Danny Faure took part in the first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi. On April 12, 2021, when the world celebrated the 60th anniversary of Russia’s Yuri Gagarin flight, which marked the beginning of the space era, the foreign ministers of Russia and Seychelles signed the Declaration on the Non-First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space. Regional ties are also developing: in December 2021, the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don became a twin city of Victoria.
Having a limited number of embassies (the island state has only ten diplomatic missions abroad, and the functions of the ambassador in Russia are traditionally assigned to the head of the diplomatic mission in Paris), Seychelles, to a large extent, focuses on maintaining ties with foreign states through a network of its honorary consuls. There is one in Russia: a consular post in Rostov-on-Don was established in 2020.
Recently, our countries have been working together to fight the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. With the Embassy’s active role, the Russian Sputnik V vaccine was officially registered in Seychelles and used during the implementation of the population immunisation programme.
In the spring of 2020, the Russian Navy’s oceanographic research vessel, “Admiral Vladimirsky”, paid a friendly visit to Seychelles. By a joint decision of the Russian Embassy, the ship’s crew and the command of the Seychelles Coast Guard, a solemn ceremony was held in the waters of the capital’s port in honour of the 75th anniversary of Victory in World War II. Seychelles, whose soldiers fought in the War within the ranks of the Allies, honoured the memory of those who died in the fight against fascism.
The second Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg in July 2023, attended by a high-ranking Seychelles delegation, has created conditions for increasing mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. The Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in November 2024 will offer even more opportunities.
At every stage, the relations between Russia and the Seychelles have been examples of friendly ties based on sincerity, equality, and mutual respect. In the current global geopolitical turbulence, this relationship keeps developing, with its strong “genetics” helping to effectively overcome the challenges of modern times.
The information is taken from the website