Experts: anti-Turkish sanctions resemble campaign against Georgia

Russia has begun to act against Turkey in the same scenario like it did in respect of Georgia in 2006 and 2008. This opinion was expressed by experts, who predicted massive violations of the rights of citizens of Turkey.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 28, Vladimir Putin signed a decree on special economic measures against Turkey. The decree bans importation of goods produced in Turkey and introduces restrictions on the work of Turkish citizens on the territory of Russia. Charter flights between the countries are also banned. Besides, Russia has also decided to suspend visa-free regime with Turkey starting from January 1, 2016.

According to Alexander Sotnichenko, Candidate of Historical Sciences, the leading analyst of the Saint Petersburg Centre for Middle East Studies, specialist in Turkey, it is reasonable "to introduce special measures in respect of members of the Turkish government and officials." "However, the restrictive measures should not touch ordinary citizens of Turkey," Alexander Sotnichenko has noted.

In their turn, human rights defenders fear "the beginning of the process of discrimination against citizens of Turkey because of their ethnicity."

The anti-Georgian campaign of 2006 also occurred after a "security" incident. This was noted by Varvara Pakhomenko, an analyst of the International Crisis Group. According to her, "about 3000 Georgian citizens and ethnic Georgians" were deported from Russia.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.