Turkey imposes visa requirements on Russian truck drivers

Turkey has begun to impose visa requirements on Russian truck drivers as a countermove against the Moscow authorities, who began imposing visa requirements on Turkish drivers following the November 2015 incident in which Turkey downed a Russian jet over airspace violation.

The director of Turkey's International Shippers Association (UND), Fatih Şener, said that Moscow's action caused trouble among Turkish drivers obliged to use an alternate route via the Caspian Sea.

"Turkey didn't impose any visa requirements even long after Moscow started to impose them, and waited patiently for Russia to step back. But because mutuality in terms of law is essential, Turkey decided to apply requirements," Şener said.

Şener also said that Turkey is in favor of returning to the visa-free regime between the two countries.

Relation between Turkey and Russia have been strained since the downing of an SU-24 Russian bomber in Turkish airspace last November.

Russia has implied a series of sanctions including a ban on fruit and vegetable imports and travel and visa restrictions.

Turkey stated that Russia violated its airspace and has refused to apologize for the action.