SOCHI, January 12. The President of Russia Vladimir Putin considers Turkey’s request to NATO on the protection after the incident with su-24 “weird” and “humiliating” for the country step. “The Turkish government instead of trying to explain to Russia that committed a war crime (the attack on the Russian su-24 approx.), due to the fact that they shot down our military bomber striking blows against the terrorists, rushed to the headquarters of NATO to seek protection, he said in an interview with German newspaper Bild, the second of which was published on Tuesday, January 12. – It looks very weird and, in my opinion, Turkey’s humiliating”.
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NATO will continue to support the air defense of Turkey
Putin noted that the incident with the impact on Russian aircraft is not connected with the membership of Turkey in NATO: “Turkey wasn’t attacked”. “If Turkey has some interests somewhere in the world, in the nearest States and it means that NATO has to protect and provide for all these interests? – said the Russian leader. This means that such a member of NATO, like Germany, should help Turkey to explore the nearby areas?”.
“I hope that no large-scale clashes such incidents will not” – said Putin. “Of course, we all understand that Russia is under any threats against itself will defend its own security interests in all available assets, if such threats against Russia will arise”, – stressed the Russian leader.
The incident with the su-24M and its implications
A fighter from the Turkish air force F-16 24 November 2015 brought down a Russian bomber su-24M, which, according to Ankara, had violated the country’s airspace near the border with Syria. In the Russian defense Ministry said the su-24M was extremely over Syrian territory.
After the incident, Putin warned that the attack on the bomber will have serious consequences for Russian-Turkish relations. According to the head of state, the Turkish air force attack on the Russian plane, which was involved in anti-terrorist operations in Syria and did not pose a threat to Turkey, is a “stab in the back” of Russia.
The crew of su-24M managed to eject, but one of the two pilots was killed by ground fire. The second pilot rescued and taken to base. In search of the pilots was attended by two helicopters Mi-8. One of the cars came under fire and made an emergency landing. One marine soldier was killed. The others aboard the helicopter were evacuated. Downed Mi-8 was destroyed by mortar fire from the territory controlled by the militants.
28 November 2015 the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree “On measures for safeguarding national security of the Russian Federation and the protection of citizens from criminal and other unlawful acts and on application of special economic measures against the Turkish Republic”, which provides, inter alia, the visa regime, banning Charter flights between Russia and Turkey. According to the decree, the Russian tour operators should refrain from working in Turkey. Among other things, the document envisages a ban or restriction on imports from Turkey of certain goods. The government was also instructed to strengthen control over the activities of the Turkish road carriers on the territory of Russia in order to ensure security.
On 28 December the head of state signed a decree according to which the sanctions of the Russian Federation in the form of a ban on performing works on the territory of Russia fall not only Turkish companies, but also companies controlled by Turkish nationals.
