Russia has right to military response after jet downing: Naryshkin

This is intentional murder of our soldiers and this deed must be punished, says Russian lower house speaker


Reuters November 27, 2015
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a press conference with French President at the Kremlin in Moscow on November 26, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

BUCHAREST:

Russia has the right to make a military response after the downing of a Russian warplane earlier this week by NATO member Turkey, lower house speaker Sergei Naryshkin said on Friday.


Speaking in an interview with Romanian television station Digi24, Naryshkin, who spoke in Russian and was translated by the broadcaster, said: "This is intentional murder of our soldiers and this deed must be punished."


The shooting down of the Russian warplane by the Turkish air force on Tuesday was one of the most serious clashes between a NATO member and Russia, and further complicated international efforts to battle Islamic State militants.


Putin refuses contacts with Erdogan as Turkey not ready to apologise-Kremlin aide

"We know those who did this and they must be judged. At the same time, the response from the Russian side will surely follow, in line with international law. And aside from this, Russia has also the right to military response," added Naryshkin, who was attending a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Bucharest.


Naryshkin, who said economic measures against Turkey might be on the cards, said Moscow had allocated additional military resources on Thursday to boost the security of Russian warplanes.

Kremlin says Turkey's Erdogan requests meeting with Putin in Paris

"Even yesterday, military resources were allocated, (for) the S400 Triumph, which is the most advanced missile defense system, with the role to maintain flight safety of Russian planes, of our military and air forces whose task is to destroy terrorist infrastructure of the so-called Islamic State and other organisations operating in Syria."

World leaders have urged both sides to avoid escalation, and China's Foreign Ministry added its voice to that on Friday.

On Thursday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying, Russia should apologise for violating Turkey's airspace.

COMMENTS (1)

charles | 8 years ago | Reply Even yesterday, military resources were allocated, (for) the S400 Triumph, which is the most advanced missile defense system, with the role to maintain flight safety of Russian planes . How is a missile defense system going to help Russian planes which fly over Turkey?
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ