Evacuation of Russian Citizens from Lebanon

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

According to data from the Russian Embassy in Beirut, there are more than 1,400 of our citizens in Lebanon at present: workers of Russian agencies there, persons working under private contracts, Russian citizens members of mixed families (mostly women and children), and tourists. Our people live in different towns all over the country. Immediately after the start of military actions, the Embassy organized work to establish contact with all the compatriots to determine their exact number and whereabouts. This work is now continuing round the clock.

Taking into account these data and other circumstances, details of evacuation of Russian citizens from Lebanon are being worked out in cooperation with interested departments. In order to ensure their unimpeded and safe departure, contact has been established with neighboring countries.

The operations headquarters, especially created within the Foreign Ministry, conducts work on the coordination of evacuation activities in Palestine and Lebanon.

July 17, 2006