Komsomolskaya Pravda: "VTB to provide Lanta-Tur Voyage clients flight home"
Putin instructed VTB Bank to put up enough money to fly stranded Russian vacationers home.
Vladimir Putin instructed Sport, Tourism, and Youth Policy Minister Vitaly Mutko to assist any Lanta-Tur Voyage travel clients that might be stranded at foreign resorts due to the tour operator's insolvency.
"This travel agency has existed for quite a while and has done well until now. At first glance, there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, but this case must be reviewed and law enforcement agencies are now looking into it. For now, we should consider the problem to be purely financial. The company did not expect this to happen," Vladimir Putin concluded. He suggested taking "the easiest way out," by assisting the company in repaying its debts to its foreign contractors in order that the agent's Russian clients be able to complete their journeys and return home. The money will be loaned by state-owned VTB Bank.
"We will try to resolve this tomorrow including the temporary funding of this company [Lanta-Tur Voyage] as instructed," Mutko said.
"What do you mean you'll try?" Putin asked pointedly. "The bank is willing to help. So we should consider this matter resolved."
The prime minister said he didn't think the tour operator "was evading responsibility" and it was keeping in contact with the ministry while looking for solutions.
"Please deal with this without delay."
Andrei Lvov
