Russia is temporarily suspending scheduled flights and charters with Turkey, Moscow announced on Monday. The suspension is due to the negative evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey and will be applied between April 15 and June 1, said Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova.
The flights will resume if the evolution of the pandemic shows a favorable trend, added Tatyana Golikova, speaking at a video conference with other members of the government. The deputy prime minister also said that travel agencies were advised to stop selling package tours in Turkey and Tanzania, where flights were also suspended.
However, two scheduled flights a week between Istanbul and Moscow will continue to operate under the approval of the Moscow government. Special flights for Russian citizens working on the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project in the southern Turkish province of Mersin will continue to operate.
The Russian authorities will closely monitor the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in both Turkey and Tanzania, and will take the necessary measures.