Turkey Has No Plans to Suspend Visa-Free Regime With Russia

Turkey will not limit its visa regime for Russian citizens, despite the strained relations between the two countries, Turkish Embassy in Russia said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On November 24, a Russian Su-24 bomber was brought down by an air-to-air missile, fired from a Turkish F-16 fighter jet. 

Russian and Syrian defense officials confirmed that the Russian jet never crossed into Turkish airspace and was illegally downed in Syria.

In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree aimed at limiting cooperation with Turkey, including suspension of the visa-free system between the two states from January 1, 2016.

“Turkey will not introduce a visa regime for citizens of Russia, because [it] considers the Russian nation as a friendly,” the embassy said.