Foreign Minister Sven Mikser (SDE) said at Thursday's government press conference that he is glad the government supported his proposal to make an exception in the case.

The government approved a draft order filed by the finance minister to allocate €122,565.34 to the Foreign Ministry from the government's contingency reserve to cover the financial aid related to expenses incurred by the consular case of the ship guards imprisoned in India.

The Estonian citizens were given unsecured financial aid for covering their accommodation and living costs while they were out of prison on bail, and also after the court ruling of Nov. 27, 2017 that satisfied their appeal. Aid was granted also to cover the men's medical bills, Mikser said.

After the men were free again, Mikser said on Dec. 6 that he would propose to the government not to claim the money back from the men. The ship guards were imprisoned in India for more than four years.

According to a regulation adopted by the foreign minister on the basis of the Consular Act in 2009, the decision not to reclaim financial aid granted by the ministry to people in distress is legally within the jurisdiction of the foreign minister.