YOSHKAR OLA (Sputnik) — According to the president, currently, for these reasons, as well as due to the deteriorated relations between the two countries, it is difficult for the Russian citizens to travel to Turkey.
"…the [Turkish] authorities, unfortunately, can't cope with the influx of various criminal gangs coming from the nearby countries, because they are in contact with them," Putin said at the All-Russia People's Front forum.
Russian-Turkish relations deteriorated following the downing of the Russian Su-24 aircraft by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria on November 24, 2015. In response to this "stab in the back," as it was described by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow imposed a number of restrictive measures on Turkey.
Russia's retaliatory measures against Ankara include, in particular, a restriction of the activities of Turkish organizations in Russia, prohibition of hiring Turkish citizens by Russian employers and a ban on certain food imports, including on oranges, tangerines, tomatoes, apples, peaches, strawberries and most poultry products.
