Russia's FSB Is Targeting Businesses And Banks Doing Business With Turkey

A general view shows the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in central Moscow. A.Savin / Wikicommons

Moscow Times: FSB Raids Turkish Bank Branches in Russia

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) raided four Turkish bank branches in Russia on Thursday, on suspicion of money laundering, Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News newspaper reported Friday citing anonymous sources.

The inspectors did not find anything illegal during the investigations, sources told the newspaper.

“The aim is to disturb Turkish banks and businessmen,” said one banking source. “By using money laundering claims, Russian authorities create trouble for these banks.”

In addition, 20 Russian banks have been searched on suspicion of shady money-transfers on behalf of Turkish businessmen, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

WNU Editor: The last thing that any person in Russia wants is the FSB knocking at your door. Broadcasting what the FSB is doing is going to freeze Russian business with Turkey far more effectively than any government decree or legislation from Moscow.

Both Russia And Turkey Continue To Trade Accusations Against Each Other

RT: Moscow says Turkey poses ‘real threat’ to Russia, relations with Ankara ‘won’t be same as before’

Relations between Moscow and Ankara will not return to how they were before, and the current line held by the Turkish authorities doesn't allow for any positive forecasts about future cooperation between the two countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksey Meshkov has said.

According to the Russian diplomat, Ankara has drawn a line under the relationship.

“As things stand now, the line that the current Turkish leadership has adopted – both in terms of its complete unwillingness to acknowledge its responsibility for the unprovoked attack on the Russian Su-24, and in terms of getting rid of double standards in the fight against international terrorism – does not allow [us] to make positive forecasts,” Meshkov told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

More News On Growing Tensions Between Russia And Turkey

Turkey's Actions Pose 'Real Threat' to Security of Russia - Moscow -- Sputnik
Vladimir Putin: Turkey's Leaders Are 'Stuffing Pockets' With ISIS Oil Money -- Chronicle Daily
Vladimir Putin swears to make Turkey regret plane downing -- Telegraph Times
Russia says Turkey should pay compensation for downed military jet -- Reuters
Russia Says Turkey Should Pay Compensation for Downed Jet -- AP
Russian Su-24M Jet Attack: Moscow Wants Turkey To Guarantee Downing Incident Will Not Repeat, Asks For Compensation -- IBTimes
Turkey Not Planning to Compensate Russia for Downed Su-24 Bomber -- Sputnik
Turkey accuses Russia of playing up military threat after downed jet -- Al Arabiya/Reuters
Russia, Turkey can turn deadly as Putin swears war plane shooting 'will not be forgotten' -- IBTimes
Russia’s payback against Turkey over shoot-down may turn deadly -- Today's Zaman
Russia’s plan for Syria is troubling for Turkey -- Mahir Zeynalov, Al Arabiya

Is The Turkish Government Shifting Its Shooting Down Of A Russian Su-24 Blame To Its Air Force Chief?

A war plane crashes in flames in a mountainous area in northern Syria after it was shot down by Turkish fighter jets near the Turkish-Syrian border Nov. 24. (Photo: Reuters)

Sputnik: Passing the Buck: Turkish Government Shifts Su-24 Blame to Air Force Chief

Social media accounts operated by supporters of Turkey's ruling AKP party have begun to attack the head of Turkey's air force, the Turkish press has reported.

Accounts on Twitter belonging to supporters of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan have turned their ire on the Commander General of Turkey's Air Force, Abidin Unal, blaming him for the shooting down of Russia's Su-24 bomber last month.

On November 24 Turkey's armed forces announced its fighter jets had shot down Russia's Su-24 bomber and claimed that the aircraft had violated Turkish airspace for 17 seconds, a claim disproved by Russia's air force.

WNU Editor: Knowing that this report was from Russian media made me treat it with a certain amount of scepticism, but there are now reports in Turkish media defending Turkey's Air Force Chief and shifting blame to the government .... Air Forces: We followed government orders in downing Russian jet (Today's Zaman). What's my take .... both countries will need to repair the damage that this has caused, and it looks like the Turkish government is looking for a "fall-guy" to pin the blame for this incident.