Russia lifts ban on charter flights to Turkey

By Emre Gurkan Abay

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia has lifted its ban on charter flights to Turkey, the Kremlin announced Thursday.

Russia's Transport Ministry said Thursday it had started implementing a Russian government order to lift charter flights to Turkey.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to this effect Thursday afternoon, the Kremlin press office stated.

Separately, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday that his country would remove economic sanctions against Turkey "on a gradual basis."

Medvedev said economic sanctions against Turkey would be lifted in accordance with instructions of Putin.

Russia would also demand guarantees by the Turkish government in order to provide safety for Russian tourists, he added.

On Wednesday, Putin agreed to end Russia’s ban on tourism to Turkey following talks over the phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Kremlin had banned the sale of tour packages and charter flights to Turkey after a Russian jet was downed by a Turkish F-16 over the Turkey-Syria border for repeatedly violating Turkish airspace on Nov. 24.

Turkish government is offering some subsidy for chartered flights, bringing foreign tourists into the country in an attempt to boost tourism income, which stood at around $33 billion last year.

*Anadolu Agency correspondents Bahattin Gonultas and Satuk Bugra Kutlugun contributed to this report from Ankara.