Turkey sends body of shot down pilot back to Russian Federation

The measure restricts Russian imports of some Turkish products, prohibits extensions of contracts for Turks working in Russia and impacts the operations of Turkish companies in Russia.

Ankara said on Monday it had returned the body of the pilot to Russian Federation.

“We have every reason to think that the decision to shoot down our plane was dictated by the desire to protect the oil supply lines to Turkish territory, right to the ports where it is loaded onto tankers”, Putin said during a news conference on the fringes of the climate talks, echoing similar accusations he made last week – which Turkey vehemently denies.

The body of the pilot killed when Turkey shot down a Russian jet last week was taken to Turkey late on Saturday to be handed over to Russia on Moscow’s request, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Sunday.

“Regarding the transfer of the body of the Su-24’s pilot to Russian Federation, we don’t have a precise date and time”.

Earlier Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced regret about Turkey’s downing of the Russian plane, saying his country was “truly saddened” by the incident and wished it had not occurred.

Relations between Turkey and Russian Federation have sharply deteriorated since Tuesday’s incident, with Russian Federation imposing economic sanctions and revoking a visa-free agreement, while Turkey has sought to cool tensions, seeing the Paris climate change talks that start this week as a chance to mend ties. One Russian serviceman was also killed trying to rescue the pilot. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said it issued the travel warning because of unspecified “difficulties” faced by Turkish visitors and residents in Russian Federation.

Erdoğan had called for face-to-face talks with Putin as Moscow and Ankara trade accusations over who was responsible for downing the plane.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu insisted once again that Ankara would not apologise over the downing of the plane.