External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday assured a Russian man of help after reports of him begging outside a temple in Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram emerged.

“Evangelin, your country Russia is our time-tested friend,” she said on Twitter. “My officials in Chennai will provide you all the help.”

The Russian had been touring Tamil Nadu when his ATM PIN got locked and he could no longer withdraw money using his card, PTI reported. The police were alerted after devotees visiting Kancheepuram’s Kumarakottam Sri Subramanya Swami temple were surprised at the sight of a foreigner seeking alms in his cap.

After verifying Evangelin’s travel documents, the police gave the 24-year-old some money and asked him to go to the Russian Consulate in Chennai, The Hindu reported.