Turkey embarrassed itself by rushing to NATO after jet downing: Putin

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey embarrassed itself by downing a Russian jet in November and then rushing to NATO for help, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, according to Today's Zaman.

Speaking to the German Bild newspaper on Tuesday, January 12, Putin said Turkey's downing of the Russian Su-24 jet on the Syrian border constitutes a “war crime,” adding: “Instead of issuing a statement on the war crime they [Turkey] committed by downing our plane that was bombing terrorists, Turkey rushed to NATO for protection. This is abnormal and embarrassing for Turkey.”

Putin said Turkey's actions could be written off for being a member of NATO. “No one is attacking Turkey. If Turkey has interests around the world or in nearby countries, does this mean NATO will protect these interests?”

Russia has been increasing its military presence in the region ever since Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet in late November.

Modern Tachyon drones were deployed to the Russian military base of the Southern Military District (SMD) in Armenia.

Tachyon unmanned aerial vehicles are used for military intelligence operations both in the daytime and at night, covering up to 40 kilometers in a variety of adverse conditions in the wind at a speed of 15 meters per second.

Russia has reinforced its military base in Armenia with six modern attack Mi-24P and transport Mi-8MT helicopters on December 21.

In early December, seven of Russia’s advanced Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters and Mi-8MT Hip transport helicopters had been deployed to the Erebuni base.