Moscow: Russia will suspend its visa-free regime with Turkey beginning January 1, 2016, the Interfax news agency reported.
The move, announced by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, comes amid mounting tensions between Ankara and Moscow after Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet on Tuesday.
Ankara claims the plane crossed into Turkish airspace despite repeated warnings over a five-minute period, while Moscow insists the aircraft was over Syrian territory at all times.
The Turkish F-16 that shot down the Russian Su-24M "was vectored from a ground command centre," Russia's Colonel General Viktor Bondarev told TASS news agency on Friday.
Bondarev said earlier that the Turkish jet had waited to attack the Russian plane.
One Russian pilot died, apparently from Syrian rebel gunfire after he ejected, while the other landed safely and was rescued by Russian and Syrian special forces.
QNA
