Black Sea cooperation results in first high-level Russian visit to Turkey since jet downed

ISTANBUL

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vassily Nebenzia will pay a visit to the headquarters of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in Istanbul on Jan. 22. 

Nebenzia will conduct a working visit as the representative of the Russian Chairmanship-in-Office of the BSEC.

Nebenzia is expected to announce the priorities of the Russian chairmanship of the regional cooperation organization in Istanbul. 

Ties between Turkey and Russia have been strained since the former downed a warplane of the latter on Turkey’s border with Syria on grounds of airspace violation on Nov. 24, 2015, ultimately leading to the death of two Russian soldiers. While Turkey has stated that it warned the Russian jet about its infraction multiple times, Russia denies these claims. 

Following the jet crisis, Russia began imposing an embargo on Turkish goods as well as visas on Turkish travelers.