The body of the pilot of a Russian Su-24 bomber shot down by a Turkish fighter jet last week has arrived in Moscow. Oleg Peshkov was shot dead while
ADVERTISEMENTThe body of the pilot of a Russian Su-24 bomber shot down by a Turkish fighter jet last week has arrived in Moscow. Oleg Peshkov was shot dead while parachuting to the ground.
Amid a growing rift between Moscow and Ankara, Russia’s prime minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered more retaliatory measures against Turkey.
“These are our necessary responses that we resort to only to protect the interests of our people, as a reaction to the aggressive behaviour of the Turkish Republic,” said Medvedev. “Special measures indeed affect a large part of the economic relations.”
Meanwhile after meeting with the NATO chief, Turkey’s prime minister dismissed suggestions that Ankara should apologise for downing the Russian bomber which allegedly violated its airspace.
“The protection of our airspace (and) land borders is not only a right, but a duty for my government, said Davutoglu.
“No Turkish prime minister or president or authority will apologise because of doing our duty,” Davutoglu added.
The Turkish prime minister said he hoped Moscow would reconsider the sanctions.
Russia is Turkey’s largest supplier of natural gas and those energy exports have so far not been affected.