Escalating the war of nerves, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday signed a decree imposing economic sanctions against NATO member Turkey as a response to its downing of a Russian Su-24 warplane in Syria.
Putin has cleared a set of restrictions that include banning several Turkish organizations and the import of certain goods, RT.com reported.
A decree on "measures providing the national security of the Russian Federation and the protection of its citizens against criminal and other unlawful acts, and on imposing special economic measures in relation to Turkish Republic" was signed on Saturday, the Kremlin press service said.
Under it, the import of certain products originating from Turkey will be temporarily banned or restricted. Employers in Russia will be prohibited from hiring Turkish nationals for work starting January 1, 2016. The ban will touch upon only new workers, the decree said, adding that employees who already officially hired as of December 31, 2015 will not fall subject to the sanctions.
Russia is also going to ban charter flights between Russia and Turkey and Russian travel agencies have been asked to stop selling tours to Turkey, a move that will hurt the Turkish economy badly.
The visa-free regime for Turkish nationals traveling to Russia will be suspended starting from 2016, the decree signed by Putin says. It will not affect those who have residence permits, as well as Turkish diplomats working in Turkish embassies and consulates on the territory of Russia, and their families.
A list of contracts not to be affected by the new economic measures will be compiled by the Cabinet, the Kremlin said in its Saturday statement.
The government has also been asked to step up security at its ports in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea. The illegal presence and movement of Turkish vessels offshore nearby Russian sea ports must be prevented, the decree said, according to RT.com.
