Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev approved
a raft of sanctions against Turkey in retaliation for the downing of a Russian
warplane, but the measures stuck largely to what Moscow had previously threatened
and had several notable omissions.
The order, published on the government's
official website on Tuesday, listed agricultural products that Russia would no
longer import from Turkey from Jan. 1, 2016 and formalized a ban on charter
flights to Turkey from Dec. 1.
But it did not target important energy projects
such as the Turkish Stream gas pipeline or food stuffs such as lemons or nuts,
most of which Russia imports from Turkey.
Relations between Moscow and Ankara have sharply
deteriorated since Turkey shot down the Russian fighter bomber near the
Syrian-Turkish border on Nov. 24.
Turkish officials say the plane violated Turkish
air space after being repeatedly warned to change its course. Moscow says the
aircraft was over Syria, where Russia is carrying out an air campaign backing
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a four-year-old civil war.
The government order also included a halt on the
activity of an inter-governmental trade commission and restrictions on Turkish
transport companies.
The list of foods banned from next year included
fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, grapes, apricots and
apples, as well as chicken products and salt.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on
Saturday the sanctions would be imposed. Russian officials have said they could
be expanded if necessary.
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