Moscow easing Russian tourists' path to Turkey: PM

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW

Moscow is working to make it easier for Russian tourists to spend their holidays in Turkey this summer, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday after the two countries began easing ties this week.

“Russian tourists who like to go on holiday in Turkey should be able to have this opportunity this season,” Medvedev told a Russian TV channel.

He added that Russia expects the Turkish government to ensure the safety of Russian tourists.

Relations between the two nations had been strained in recent months after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet that violated its airspace last November.

Russia lifted a ban on tourist flights to Turkey Thursday following a telephone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Charter flights from Russia to Turkey will resume on July 7, Turkey's Civil Aviation Directorate announced on Friday on Twitter.

The Turkish government is subsidizing the renewed flights to boost the tourism industry.

*Anadolu Agency Correspondent Handan Kazanci contributed to this report from Istanbul.