Turkey's Pegasus Airlines announced that flights between Russia and Turkey would resume on Jan. 15 as the Turkish crew's visa problems have been resolved, the RBC news website reported Friday.
The company said the problem had been resolved thanks to the combined efforts of the Turkish Transport and Foreign Affairs Ministries, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Ankara, RBC reported.
Pegasus Airlines, a Turkish budget carrier, announced on Jan. 5 that it had suspended flights to and from Russia until Jan. 13 after Russian authorities failed to grant its crew members visas.
Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim accused Russia of violating international aviation rules by arbitrarily denying visas to Pegasus employees.
Russia rejected the accusation that it was refusing to issue visas to crews of the Turkish budget carrier, saying the airline should have applied for them earlier.
Moscow suspended visa-free travel for Turkish citizens from Jan. 1 as part of a range of sanctions after a Russian warplane was shot down near the Turkish-Syrian border in November.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.