Russia, Turkey To Reinstate Visa-Free Regime

After overcoming bad feelings since the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian warplane in 2015, Moscow and Ankara have shown serious determination to normalize their ties.

Following the meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Moscow and Ankara are working together on reinstating a visa-free regime between the countries.

"Today, we discussed issues that concern the further easing of the visa regime [between Russia and Turkey]," Lavrov said at a press-conference on April 28.

"Some time ago the Russian side suggested making some specific steps at this stage. Firstly, to revive the visa-free regime for owners of service passports; secondly, to provide visa-free border crossing for long-distance drivers who are involved in international transport operations," he said.

"Our Turkish friends promised to react. I guess it will be a tangible move for a whole number of categories of our citizens," Lavrov said.

"We’ve got plans to extend categories, which will use an easier visa regime and a visa-free regime, and overall we are interested in moving towards this goal."

After the Turkish Air Force downed a Russian Su-24 fighter jet in 2015, Russia imposed unilateral sanctions on Turkey, including an end to visa-free travel and calling on tourists to not visit Turkey. Russia forbade tour companies from selling packages for trips to Turkey, advised all Russian citizens to leave the Middle Eastern country, and promised it would hit back with sanctions of its own. Although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed Turkish jets did not know the Su-24 was a Russian jet, the incident caused an outpouring of anger in Russia.

When Russia introduced new visa requirements for Turkish nationals, Ankara reacted in kind, and imposed visa requirements on Russian truck drivers.

"Turkey waited patiently for Russia to lift visa requirements that were reintroduced after the fighter jet crisis, but continued sanctions from the Russians required Turkey to impose similar restrictions," Fatih Sener, managing director of Turkey's International Shippers Association (UND).

Relations between the countries started to improve in mid-2016. Against the background of improving relations, restrictions are being lifted, step by step.

On Saturday, Lavrov mentioned that the visa requirements for truck drivers are to be withdrawn.

“Of course, we are interested in completely removing visa restrictions for both Russian and Turkish citizens,” Turkey’s Cavusoglu said, expressing high interest in stabilizing relations with the Kremlin, including the issue of the citizens traveling.

Along with restoring visa policies, the two countries are breaking ground on the construction of a $22 billion energy production facility, the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is to be built in Turkey. The sides are also working on building the TurkStream offshore gas pipeline that will supply Russian natural gas to Europe through Turkey. According to the deal signed in December, Russia will supply Turkey its S-400 missile system. Turkey is the first member of NATO to buy the system from Russia.