Moscow is to suspend its visa-free agreement with Turkey at the beginning of next year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
Friday’s announcement comes as tensions mount after the downing of a Russian fighter jet by Turkey earlier this week.
Russia has ruled out any military response against NATO member Turkey, but it has pledged broad retaliatory measures targeting entire sectors of the Turkish economy, including tourism, agriculture and investments.
On Thursday, two Turkish businessmen with investments in Russia told Al Jazeera that Russian police have been raiding Turkish companies in different regions of the country and, in some cases, have suspended their operations.
Moscow has also started sending back Turkish trucks loaded with exports at the border and stopped Turkish tourists – who normally do not need visas – entering the country, at least two businessmen said.
“A decision has been made to halt the visa-free regime with Turkey,” Lavrov told reporters after talks with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Moscow.
“This decision will enter into force from January 1, 2016.”
Ankara said the Russian plane crossed into its airspace on Tuesday, despite repeated warnings over a five-minute period, while Moscow insists it was over Syrian territory at all times.
One Russian pilot died, apparently from Syrian rebel gunfire after he ejected, while the other landed safely and was picked up by Russian and Syrian special forces.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he wanted to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Paris at the sidelines of a climate summit.
Moscow has so far not commented on Erdogan’s suggestion.
Source: Al Jazeera
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