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Turkey summons Russian envoy over "provocative" passing of Bosphorus

Xinhua, December 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkey summoned the Russian ambassador in Ankara on Monday to protest against a recent "provocative" passing of a Russian warship through the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul.

A Russian soldier was seen holding a surface-to-air missile in firing position on the deck of Russian warship "Caesar Kunikov" when it was passing through the Bosphorus en route to the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday, irking Ankara over recent tension with Moscow.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on Russia Monday to end such "provocative acts," saying Turkey obeys the Montreux Convention and has not blocked any Russian ships from passing through the Bosphorus.

Ties between Ankara and Moscow have soured after Turkey shot down a Russia's fighter jet on Nov. 24, claiming the Russian warplane had violated Turkish airspace. Moscow has vehemently denied any violation and insisted the Su-24 fighter jet had stayed over Syria during its flight. Endit