The State Hermitage informs

25 December, 2009 the press service of the museum spread the information:

Despite the crisis and launched campaign against the system of benefits for Russian citizens to visit museums, the State Hermitage has kept its unique system of benefits.

The museum grants free entrance for children of preschool and school age and students regardless of their citizenship and also for retired citizens of the Russian Federation. These benefits are provided by the Hermitage on the basis of its own abilities. To be able to take advantage of these special prices, it is necessary to prove the right to these benefits; it means that a document confirming Russian citizenship, the status of a retired person or of a student is to be presented. As it has been before, the right to free admission is still granted to veterans and invalids of the Great Patriotic War, citizens of the besieged Leningrad and other categories of citizens.

To be able to finance this social system the State Hermitage has to index the price of entrance ticket for visitors to whom museum benefits are not applied.