Turkey imposes visa regime on Russian truck drivers

Turkey has imposed visa requirements on Russian truck drivers on the principle of reciprocity, a senior shipping industry representative announced on Wednesday, Daily Sabah reports.

Russia has reintroduced visa requirements for Turkish nationals on January 1st after its relations with Turkey were deeply strained due to a downing of a Russian bomber jet that violated Turkish airspace in November.

"Turkey patiently waited for Russia to lift visa requirements that were reintroduced after the fighter jet crisis, but sanctions from the Russian side required Turkey's reciprocal restrictions. Therefore, Turkey's which is effective as of Wednesday is based on reciprocity," Fatih Sener, managing director of Turkey's International Shippers Association (UND).