- Following the recent measures announced by the Russian Government, including The imposition of a “non-operational” period till 30 April 2020, Russian universities have temporarily suspended on-campus operations and have switched to distance learning modules. There are currently 15,000 Indian students studying in 56 universities across Russia. The Embassy of India is in constant touch with University authorities, student representatives and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the well-being of Indian students and offer them support and advice during this difficult period. The Ambassador has been conducting regular videoconferences with student representatives during the past two weeks to apprise them of the latest developments and receive feedback on their concerns.
- The situation in Russia is rapidly evolving. Students are advised to remain in touch with their University authorities for the latest updates and local guidelines. The official online portal of the Russian Federation “Stopkoronavirus” (стопкоронавирус.рф) and the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) are useful sources for information on the situation in Russia,in addition to the WHO and the Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for global and India-specific information respectively.
- ON-CAMPUS SERVICES: As per the Decree issued by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education on 2 April 2020, Russian Universities continue to operate their hostels and on- campus housing facilities during this period, and no foreseeable disruption in housing for Indian students are anticipated. Universities also continue to operate on-campus health services and provide medical facilities for foreign students. Students are advised to familiarize themselves with the information provided by the Universities on seeking medical help during this period.
- VISAS: The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has adopted temporary measures on 19 March 2020 to extend the deadline for renewal of visas and migration registration for foreign citizens, including students, by 90 days. As per the official statement released by the MIA, applicants are required to submit a free application for a visa renewal at MIA’s regional office for an extension. Students are advised to contact their university authorities incase their valid visas will expire within the next 60 days and initiate the process for The automatic extension. The complete text of the order released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs dated 19 March can be found at https://en.mvd.ru/. Please contact us at edu1.moscow@mea.gov.in or cons.moscow@mea.gov.in for any queries or difficulties related to the extension of visas during this period.
- TRAVEL: While Russia has not placed any bans on travel within the country, students are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential domestic and international travel at this juncture. It may be noted that currently there are travel restrictions and India has suspended all scheduled international commercial passenger flights. All domestic passenger flights within India is also currently suspended. However, these are temporary measures taken by the The government in the interest of our countrymen and their near and dear ones. At this juncture, no special flights are planned. The Government is reviewing the situation and is constantly working on all the options. The latest Government of India travel advisories can be found at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/. The Embassy continues to monitor the situation closely and we will provide updates on the resumption of commercial flights from Russia to India when available.
- Students are strongly advised to stay put in their respective places during this time and follow safety guidelines and instructions issued by their universities. They should take due precautionary measures, including using face masks while stepping out to buy groceries and other provisions, washing hands regularly for at least 20 seconds as per the WHO guidelines, disinfecting gadgets and commonly used surfaces like doorknobs, tabletops, etc. periodically. Avoid using common spaces in universities like recreational rooms, gyms, libraries, etc. as far as possible. Maintain a healthy diet and engage in regular physical exercise. The Ministry of AYUSH has compiled a list of immunity-boosting ideas for self-care that can be accessed here.
- Please continue to monitor the Embassy website for regular updates and information on the evolving situation concerning COVID-19. In case of any difficulties, problems or concerns please contact the Embassy/Consulate through the 24×7 Emergency helpline numbers or write to us at edu1.moscow@mea.gov.in and we will take up your concerns with the University authorities. You can also reach out to us via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
STAY SAFE! STAY HOME! USEFUL LINKS
- Lomonosov Moscow State University’s advisory for staying on Campus and visa and registration procedures may be accessed at this link https://www.msu.ru/en/intcoop/for-incoming-students-infection.php
- Memo for residents of Russian University of People’s Friendship (RUDN) maybe accessed at http://eng.rudn.ru/media/news/life-in- rudn/memo-for-residents-of-rudn-university-hostels-how–to-behave- on-vacations/
- Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation has released the fifth version of the Interim Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) updated on 09 April 2020, which may be accessed at https://www.rosminzdrav.ru/news/2020/04/09/13675-minzdrav- rossii-vypustil-pyatuyu-versiyu-metodicheskih-rekomendatsiy-po- koronavirusu
