Russia denies evacuating its nationals from Syria as 150 Russians head to Beirut airport

 
150 Russian nationals came all the way from Syria to al-Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday on their way back to Moscow via Rafic Hariri International Airport. After completing all official procedures, they headed to Beirut amid tight security measures.

Earlier, Russian Diplomatic sources had denied through LBCI that it was evacuating its nationals from Syria.                 

The sources however clarified that almost 150 Russian nationals who are living in Syrian areas where violent clashes are taking place, asked for help from the Russian Consulate to leave the country since there was no direct air route to Moscow or one between Damascus and Beirut.              

In this context, the Consulate managed to transfer the nationals via the Masnaa border crossing toward the Beirut International Airport where 2 Russian airplanes flew them to Moscow.        

AFP quoted a Russian diplomat as saying that 100 Russian nationals who are willing to leave Syria will head to Moscow through the Beirut International Airport on both Tuesday and Wednesday.