Russia to take fresh measures against Ankara: Deputy PM

PanARMENIAN.Net - Moscow will take new measures in response to Turkey’s unfriendly actions, Russian Deputy Prime Minister said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 news channel on Monday, December 28, TASS reports.

"Russia’s actions will further be announced," Arkady Dvorkovich said.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has already unveiled such plans at government meetings, he added. Meanwhile, he noted, the Russian government isn’t going to fully reject cooperation with Turkey.

Relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated after November 24 when a Turkish F-16 fighter jet brought down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber, which, Ankara alleges, violated the country’s airspace near the Syrian border.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the warplane was flying over Syrian territory and had never violated Turkey’s airspace.

Moscow has announced economic sanctions against Turkey over the attack that President Vladimir Putin has described as "stab in Russia’s back" delivered by terrorists’ accomplices. In late November, Putin signed a decree "On measures to ensure Russia’s national security and protect nationals of the Russian Federation from criminal and other illegal actions and to use special economic measures against the Turkish Republic." Under the decree, Russia has banned or restricted imports of certain Turkish goods, including vegetables and fruits. Moscow has suspended the visa-free travel agreement with Turkey and banned charter flights between Russia and Turkey. Besides, travel agencies are advised against selling holiday packages to Turkey, a popular tourist destination for Russians.