Russia to lift sanctions on Turkey

Russia’s Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, has asked ministers to prepare to lift economic sanctions against Turkey, which Russia imposed towards the end of last year when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter plane near the Turkish border with Syria. Russia’s sanctions on Turkey restrict the import of certain Turkish goods, including fruit and vegetables, and tourism to Turkey. The Prime Minister has said that the sanctions will be lifted gradually, to avoiding causing damage “to Russian producers and partners who have already occupied a niche” under the sanctions.  President Putin has signed a decree to lift the tourism measures.