Putin Allows Visa-Free Travel for Turkey as First Batch of S-400 Delivery Completed

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Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, has signed a decree yesterday (July 25), allowing visa-free travel for citizens of Turkey.

According to the decree, holders of private and service passports will be able to travel to Russia for any purpose. Previously, citizens of Turkey could only make visa-free travels for short-term business trips.

The decree said that it will be implemented on a reciprocal basis. Citizens of Russia do not have to obtain a visa for their travels to Turkey up to 60 days.

Moscow had introduced the visa regime as part of economic sanctions against Turkey after its F-16 jets downed a Su-24 of Russia on the because of air space violation on November 24, 2015.

Putin's decree coincided with the completion of the first batch of the S-400 air defense systems' delivery.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the decree is "the fruit of the warm relations and dialogue with Russia," in a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad. (AÖ/VK)