MOSCOW, Nov. 28 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a decreeimposing economic sanctions against Turkey after Turkey shot down a Russian warplanenear the Syrian-Turkish border Tuesday.
The presidential decree, which was posted at the website of the Kremlin, said a ban ofcharter flights from Russia to Turkey will be introduced, and Russian tourism operatorsshould stop selling tour packages to Turkey.
The decree, which became effective immediately on the date of publication, was entitled"On measures to ensure Russia's national security and protect Russian citizens fromcriminal and other illegal activities and the application of special economic measuresagainst Turkey."
In accordance with the decree, Turkish companies of transportation shall be restricted intheir operations in Russian territories, with Turkish ships and boats being banned fromstaying at or navigating across Russian ports, while import of certain goods from Turkeywill be halted.
The visa-free travel regime between Russia and Turkey is also formally suspended andTurkish citizens, except Turkish diplomats and their dependents and those with temporarypermits of residence, are not allowed to enter Russia starting Jan. 1, 2016, according to thedecree.
Russian employers are ordered not to extend contracts with Turkish nationals and willface restrictions in this regard.
Putin instructed Russian Foreign Ministry to inform the Turkish side of the contents of thedecree and ordered the government to prepared a detailed list of goods, firms and jobsthat would be impacted.
Russia's move came after Turkey shot down Russia's fighter jet Tuesday, with the latterclaiming that the Russian warplane violated Turkish airspace, which Moscow vehementlydenied and insisted the Su-24 fighter jet stayed over Syria during its flight.
Putin had warned that Turkey's downing of the Russian fighter jet would have seriousconsequences for bilateral ties. Moscow had vowed to take measures in response toTurkey's downing of the Russian warplane.
Putin on Thursday demanded an apology from the Turkish leadership and a compensationfor the damage, while Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered the relevantgovernment departments to prepare the draft of possible economic sanctions againstTurkey.
Earlier on Saturday, Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning, urging Turkishnationals to postpone their visits to Russia unless absolutely necessary, while TurkishPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced regret over the incident, saying his country was"truly saddened" by the incident and wished it hadn't occurred.
