Most Russians favor ban on Turkish holidays, fruit and vegetables - poll
MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax) - The measures taken by Russia against Turkey are regarded by Russians as "the punishment of Turkey for the downed plane, the scaling down of relations with it" (27%), "demonstration of force to make others respect us" (16%) and the desire to ensure safety for Russia and its citizens (15%), the Public Opinion Foundation said after a conducting a survey among 1,500 respondents in 104 towns across 53 Russian regions on December 5-6.
Furthermore, 9% of the respondents consider it part of "the fight against terrorism, against ISIL (a terrorist organization banned in Russia)." Five per cent spoke of "ending support for the Turkish economy, inflicting damage on it" and another five per cent talked about "the boosting the Russian economy, developing domestic production and resorts." Seventeen per cent could not answer.
Most Russians (88%) said they had not planned travelling to Turkey in the next few years. Overall, over two-thirds of the respondents (69%) favor the ban on sale of package holidays in Turkey (13% disapproved).
Half of the respondents (51%) said the ban on Turkish fruit and vegetable imports will not affect Russia's economy. One in five (20%) believes this measure will produce positive results for Russia; by contrast, a slightly smaller proportion (17%) is expecting negative consequences.
According to the poll findings, 73% do not think this ban will affect their lives in any away. Nine per cent said its effect will be positive; 11% expect it to be negative. Overall, 69% of the respondents support the ban on Turkish fruit and vegetables imports to Russia (13% are opposed and 18% could not answer).
The relations between Russia and Turkey soured after an incident in which a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 military aircraft was shot down by Turkey over Syrian territory on November 24. The pilot was killed, but his navigator survived. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the incident "a stab in the back" on Turkey's part and accused Ankara of abetting terrorists.
On November 28 Putin signed a decree, entitled "On measures to provide Russian national security and to protect Russian citizens from criminal and other unlawful acts, and the introduction of special economic measures against the Turkish Republic." The decree stipulates, among other things, a ban on charter flights and sale of Turkey holidays, as well as visa requirements introduced from January 1, 2016.
On December 1 the Russian government published a decree introducing restrictive measures against Turkey. The document bans imports of Turkish vegetables and fruit, poultry and salt from January 1, 2016.
