Turkey to Summon Russian Envoy Over Pictures of Warship in Bosphorus: Media

Turkey's Foreign Ministry is set to summon Russia's ambassador in Ankara over pictures that have emerged in local media of a Russian warship in the Bosphorus Strait, Hurriyet reported Monday citing Turkish officials.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — On Sunday, pictures were published by Turkish media allegedly showing a serviceman on a Russian ship holding a man-portable surface-to-air missile as the ship was passing through Bosphorus. The incident was deemed a provocation by Turkish authorities.

Earlier in the day, Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim slammed Russia for the alleged incident, labeling it a direct threat to Ankara.

The 1936 Montreux Convention on the Regime of the Straits regulates the passage of civilian and naval ships through the Bosphorus Strait and the Dardanelles. 

According to Article 2, "merchant vessels shall enjoy complete freedom of transit and navigation in the Straits, by day and by night, under any flag and with any kind of cargo, without any formalities."

As for naval warships, in times of peace Turkey must permit the passage of small and medium-sized vessels belonging to all nations. The Black Sea powers (formerly including the USSR and now Russia) can navigate warships of any class through the Straits, "on condition that these vessels pass through the Straits singly, escorted by not more than two destroyers."

In times of war, the passage of warships shall be left entirely to the discretion of the Turkish government, according to the document.