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Russian tourists to consult with watchdog

The participants will discuss the issues of legal assistance to consumers

MOSCOW, May 2 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian tourists who suffered from actions by the Idealny Mir /Ideal World/ travel agency, are invited for consultations at the public relations office of the Rospotrebnadzor Federal Service for Supervision of Consumers Protection and Welfare from 13:00 to 16:00, Moscow time, on Wednesday. Personnel of Rospotrebnadzor's department for consumer rights protection will be assisting them.

"All those wishing to get consultations might contact Rospotrebnadzor at the designated time and bring the available documents," a Rospotrebnadzor official said, explaining that consultations were a result of the meeting between Rospotrebnadzor chief Gennady Onishchenko with a group of consumers, whose holiday-making planes had been ruined by Idealny Mir before the holidays.

"The participants will discuss the issues of legal assistance to consumers and work out joint actions with Rospotrebnadzor," the official said.

Earlier, Rospotrebnadzor's Moscow department launched an administrative probe against Idealny Mir.

More than 70 tourists who used the services of Idealny Mir were unable to fly from Domodedovo airport in the second half of April, because the firm had not paid for their transportation, and some 50 persons were stranded in Israel.

Idealny Mir claimed it had a 30-million-rouble coverage with the Rosgosstrakh insurance company, but Rosgosstrakh officials said the contract with the travel firm had expired in 2011.

"We have reasons to believe that Idealny Mir misled its clients and Rostourism by providing unauthentic information about valid insurance contract," a Rosgosstrakh official said.

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