Ankara's Intention to Appeal Moscow's Restrictions in WTO 'Absurd'

Franz Klintsevich, the first deputy chair of the Russia's upper house Committee on Security and Defense, called Turkey's intention to appeal in the World Trade Organization (WTO) restrictive measures imposed by Moscow "absurd and nonsense."

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Turkey's intention to appeal in the World Trade Organization (WTO) restrictive measures imposed by Moscow against Ankara have no chance to succeed, a senior Russian lawmaker said Monday.

Earlier in January, Turkish Economy Minister Mustafa Elitas said that Ankara would lodge a complaint against Russia to WTO and international courts over restrictions imposed on Ankara after downing of a Russian Su-24 jet.

"Ankara may complain as much as it wants and to anywhere it wants. Restrictive measures imposed by Russia against Turkey are our rather soft response to a treacherous stab in the back," Franz Klintsevich, the first deputy chair of the upper house Committee on Security and Defense, said.

According to the lawmaker, Turkey's stance regarding the issue is "absurd and nonsense."

The downing of Russia’s Su-24 frontline bomber over Syria by a Turkish jet on November 24 damaged relations between Moscow and Ankara.

In the wake of the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the economic measures against Ankara following the Su-24 downing. The decree, which entered into force on Friday, includes a ban on employment of Turkish citizens by Russian employers, a food import ban on certain categories of products, as well as a ban on charter flights in both directions.