Moscow – Putin, Citing National Security, Signs Turkey Sanctions Decree

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    Turkish protestors shout slogans against Russia as they hold a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin reading on 'murder Putin' during a protest against Russia after Friday prayers in Istanbul, Turkey, 27 November 2015. A Russian fighter jet was shot down 24 November over the Turkish-Syrian border, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said, according to Interfax news agency.  EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLUMoscow – President Vladimir Putin signed a decree imposing a raft of punitive economic sanctions against Turkey on Saturday, underlining the depth of the Kremlin’s anger toward Ankara four days after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane.

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    The decree, which entered into force immediately, said charter flights from Russia to Turkey would be banned, that tour firms would be told not to sell any holidays there, and that unspecified Turkish imports would be outlawed, and Turkish firms and nationals have their economic activities halted or curbed.

    “The circumstances are unprecedented. The gauntlet thrown down to Russia is unprecedented. So naturally the reaction is in line with this threat,” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said hours before the decree was published.

    A senior Turkish official told Reuters the sanctions would only worsen the standoff between Moscow and Ankara.

    But aides to Putin say he is incandescent that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has yet to apologize for the Nov. 24 incident near the Syrian-Turkish border in which one Russian pilot was killed along with a Russian marine who tried to rescue the crew of the downed SU-24 jet.

    Senior Russian officials have called the episode, one of the most serious publicly acknowledged clashes between a NATO member country and Russia for half a century, a pre-planned provocation.

    Erdogan has been equally robust. He has said Turkey will not apologize for downing the jet, saying Ankara was fully within its rights to defend its air space. On Saturday, he appeared to soften his rhetoric a little, saying the episode had saddened him.

    Putin’s spokesman suggested the Russian leader was ready for a long standoff however, saying he was “fully mobilized” to tackle what he regarded as an unprecedented threat from Turkey.

    NATIONAL SECURITY

    The decree, posted on the Kremlin’s website, spoke of the need to protect Russia’s national security and Russian citizens “from criminal and other illegal activities”.

    In it, Putin ordered the government to prepare a list of goods, firms and jobs that would be affected. Some of the measures announced have already been informally introduced.

    The government is expected to publish the list of banned imports on Monday, Interfax news agency reported, citing a government source. The list is likely to include food and some other products, a second government source said.

    Turkey mainly sells food, agricultural products and textiles to Moscow and is also one of the most popular holiday destinations for Russians. Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said he thought up to 200,000 Turkish citizens could be on Russian soil.

    Putin signed the decree days before a climate change summit in Paris. Erdogan said earlier on Saturday it could be a chance to repair relations with Moscow.

    “Confrontation will not bring anyone happiness. As much as Russia is important for Turkey, Turkey is important for Russia,” Erdogan said in a televised speech in the western city of Baliksehir.

    Peskov said Putin was aware of a Turkish request for him to meet Erdogan on the sidelines of the Paris conference but gave no indication of whether such a meeting would take place.

    He called the behavior of the Turkish air force “absolute madness” and said Ankara’s subsequent handling of the crisis had reminded him of the “theater of the absurd.”

    “Nobody has the right to traitorously shoot down a Russian plane from behind,” Peskov told Russia’s “News on Saturday” TV program, calling Turkish evidence purporting to show the Russian jet had violated Turkish air space “cartoons”.

    Turkey’s foreign ministry advised people on Saturday to postpone all non-urgent travel to Russia.

    Peskov, according to the TASS news agency, also spoke on Saturday of how Erdogan’s son had a “certain interest” in the oil industry. Putin has said oil from Syrian territory controlled by Islamic State militants is finding its way to Turkey.

    Erdogan has spoken of slander and asked anyone making such accusations to back up their words with evidence.‎


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    5 Comments
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    HeshyEkes
    HeshyEkes
    8 years ago

    That arrogant moron Erdogan thinks he’s dealing with Obama or a pressured Netanyahu. Putin’s Thansgiving will be a bit late this year, but make no mistake, Putin will eat Turkey this year. Endogan will soften, then get on his knees, but Putin will break him like a twig. For Erdogan to think that he can shoot down a Russian plane because it “intruded” his borders by a mile is a combination of stupidity and arrogance that will cost him dearly. It’s about time; Chasdei Hashem, first Syria’s civil war kills 250,000 people that were not friends of Israel, then ISIS shows the world what the “religion of peace” looked like; and now Turkey starts up with Russia. Ikveseh D’Meshicheh.

    8 years ago

    Does anyone know what spin the Turkish media is feeding its citizens to justify the poster in the photograph?

    HankM
    HankM
    8 years ago

    I always knew Erdogan was an imbecile, but this move was political suicide

    Liepa
    Liepa
    8 years ago

    Unfortunately, this incident isn’t over yet by any means and I fervently hope this doesn’t drag into a major to do as the consequences thereof could drag the entire region and NATO into a prolonged war that could ignite beyond anyone’s wildest dreams or imagination C”V!

    begtodiffer
    begtodiffer
    8 years ago

    Maybe Putin should send an humanitarian flotilla for the Kurds.I would like to see turkeys reaction.