The foreign Ministry intends to revise legislation that guarantees free assistance in the return of citizens from abroad in exceptional cases. In particular, the office may oblige the Russians to reimburse the cost of evacuation. This is reported by Vedomosti, citing a draft government resolution.
Currently, such assistance is available to citizens in case of threat to their lives abroad. In the explanatory note to the document States that this principle significantly reduces the efficiency of the mechanism of financial assistance, including in the context of pandemic coronavirus. Thus, the assessment of threats to the life of Russians stranded abroad, it is difficult and subjective, leading to frequent failures in providing assistance. The strict criteria for assistance due to including the principle of gratuitousness.
The foreign Ministry suggested that instead of free return from abroad of citizens in the event of death to ensure the return from abroad all Russians for return of expenditure in the budget. It is assumed that the return of the money will be for three months, sending the proof of payment document to the office by mail. If during this time the Russians won’t pay for evacuation from abroad, will start the procedure of compulsory fulfillment of obligations to the state.
“The decision on whether to appeal it will be accepted by the citizen, that is actually assistance will be provided in a declarative manner, not only in the presence of threat of life”, — concluded the Minister.
Russia halted scheduled and Charter flights from other countries on March 27. With the exception of the flights organized for the return of Russians from abroad, and private flights on behalf of the government. For this purpose the Ministry of foreign Affairs has allocated more than 500 million rubles, of which expenditure target, the Agency should report before February 1, 2021.
