“Without bothering to grasp the essence of the issue, some journalists hastily conclude that the financial aid allocated to Russians stuck outside of Russia due to the pandemic will continue to be issued for a fee,” the message on Facebook says.
The department noted that Resolution No. 370, which is proposed to be amended, was issued on May 31, 2010 and concerns those cases when citizens who are abroad in the conditions of current regular communication with Russia cannot return to their homeland due to lack of funds to purchase return ticket.
In this case, they can buy a ticket or pay for a hotel.
“The transfer of money in cash / non-cash form to a citizen does not occur. Therefore, it is absolutely wrong to confuse this aid mechanism with the allocation of material allowances in the framework of Resolution No. 433, ”the Foreign Ministry explained.
At the same time, they clarified that the current version of Resolution No. 370 provides for the provision of such assistance only in cases where a threat to the life of a citizen is recorded.
“The question arises: why bring the situation to the point where the life of a Russian citizen will already be threatened by something?!?! Isn't it easier to help him buy a ticket so that he can safely return to his homeland?!?! " - said in the comments of the department.
At the same time, a similar practice of paid assistance to citizens exists in other countries, the Foreign Ministry added.
At the same time, the ministry stressed that large-scale emergencies against the backdrop of a pandemic "certainly require completely different mechanisms to support fellow citizens who were unable to return to Russia."
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry offered to guarantee the return home from abroad to all Russians, but subject to the return of expenses to the budget.