Lawmakers from both upper and lower chambers of Russian parliament — the Federation Council and the State Duma ?€” have suggested canceling air communication with Turkey in the wake of the Turkish military downing a Russian Su-24 military air plane on Tuesday, the Kommersant newspaper reported.
Deputy speaker of the State Duma and A Just Russia party member Nikolai Levichev sent an official request to Alexander Neradko, head of the aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia, calling for immediate cancellation of all air communications with Turkey.
“In a situation when Turkish authorities aren't exactly negative toward the Islamic State terrorist group [which is banned in Russia], there is the risk of terrorists infiltrating Turkish airports and increasing the danger of terrorism in Russian airliners,” he was quoted by Kommersant as saying in the letter.
His pledge was echoed by the Federation Council senator Igor Morozov, member of the committee for international affairs, who said Turkey needs to be included into the list of countries Russia has suspended air communication with, the RIA Novosti state-run news agency reported Tuesday.
?€?There has to be no such air route until relations with Turkey improve. Russian tourists are not safe in the country that downs Russian planes,?€? Morozov was cited by the agency as saying.
Russia's Foreign Ministry issued an official statement Tuesday that advised Russians not to visit Turkey, according to RIA Novosti.
A Russian air force Su-24 fighter-bomber was downed on the Turkish-Syrian border on Tuesday morning. It was shot with an air-to-air missile from a Turkish F-16 interceptor, said Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with the king of Jordan Abdullah II.