Turkey Seeks To Totally Abolish Visas With Russia - Foreign Minister

Turkey makes every effort toward fully restoring visa-free travel to Russia for Turkish citizens, which was suspended four years ago, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st March, 2019) Turkey makes every effort toward fully restoring visa-free travel to Russia for Turkish citizens, which was suspended four years ago, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.

"We are committed to the prompt and complete abolition of visas with Russia, making every possible effort in this regard," Cavusoglu said, speaking in the Turkish city of Eskisehir, as quoted by the Anadolu news agency.

Russia suspended visa-free travel with Turkey in 2015 after its warplane in Syria was downed by a Turkish jet, prompting a breakdown in their relations.

Russia's travel rules for Turkish citizens was partially eased in 2017, a year after Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan penned a letter of apology to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the downed jet.

On February 6, 2018, Putin signed a decree introducing visa waivers for those Turkish nationals, who hold special passports and traveling to Russia on short working trips, such as diplomats and consular staff, as well as for freight drivers on international routes. According to the decree, the exemptions are granted only on condition of reciprocity from Turkey.