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Foreign Ministry seeking whereabouts of Russian citizens from wrecked liner

As of 3:00 p.m. Moscow time, the embassy has established contact with 109 Russian citizens

MOSCOW, January 15 (Itar-Tass) —— The Russian Foreign Ministry is seeking the whereabouts of all Russian citizens from the wrecked liner Costa Concordia.

“The Russian embassy in Italy together with the Russian general consulates in Genoa, Milan and Marseilles are rendering assistance round-the-clock to the Russian passengers and crewmembers of the Costa Concordia liner,” the ministry said. “The whereabouts of all the Russian citizens are being sought. As of 3:00 p.m. Moscow time, the embassy has established contact with 109 Russian citizens.”

“Documents are being prepared for the return home of the Russian citizens. The Russian embassy in Rome and the Russian consulate general in Genoa stay in touch with the Italian authorities and the Costa Concordia’s operator, Costa Crociere. All the expenditures related to medical treatment and stay of the Russian citizens in Italy and their transportation home are covered by Costa Crociere. The operator has opened staffs at every place of the accommodation of the tourists to order and pay for tickets to regular flights for the citizens wishing to return to Russia. The embassy is interacting with airlines for the soonest transportation of fellow citizens to Russia. Some of the Russian tourists flied from Italy to Russia in the morning of January 15,” the ministry said.

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