MOSCOW, Jan 22 (KUNA) -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov said here Tuesday his country has no plan to evacuate its nationals from Syria, which has been hit by unprecedented protests and unrest.
Denisov was quoted by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency as saying that Moscow did not plan to evacuate its national from violence-hit Syria, and the Russian embassy in Damascus is fully operating.
But, the Russian consulate in Aleppo was closed down due to continuing violence and battles there, the Russian official pointed out.
Meanwhile, two Russian jets, an Ilyushin-76 and Yakovlev-42, have already landed in Beirut to help the Russians leaving Syria and willing to come back to Moscow to do so.
About 150 Russian citizens are reportedly expected to use this opportunity to return to Moscow.
All those willing to take the flights to Moscow are already in Lebanon. (end) as.mt KUNA 222045 Jan 13NNNN