Zhirinovsky calls for tough diplomatic response against Turkey
MOSCOW. Oct 11 (Interfax) - Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and its State Duma faction Vladimir Zhirinovsky has suggested recalling the Russian ambassador from Ankara and deporting the Turkish ambassador from Moscow in retaliation for the interception of a Syrian airliner that was carrying Russian citizens.
"To recall our ambassador from Turkey and deport their ambassador from Russia. The Turks are obviously exceeding all the bounds of reason," Zhirinovsky wrote in his Twitter blog on Thursday.
On Wednesday evening, Turkey scrambled its military jets to force a Damascus-bound Syrian passenger plane from Moscow to land at Ankara airport. There were between 25 and 35 people on board, including 17 Russians.
The Turkish side sited intelligence reports claiming that the plane was carrying non-civilian cargo.
In a statement circulated on Thursday, LDPR demanded tough retaliation for the incident.
"For a long while, the Turkish authorities were refusing to comment on the incident. But even the official version of the plane's detention, which was aired by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu hours afterwards, by no means justifies Ankara's outrageous actions," the statement says.
"LDPR strongly condemns this decision. Russia has and has had all legal grounds for such carriage. We can provide any aid to Damascus directly, without even using passenger planes. Syria remains our strategic partner, and given its virtual isolation and attempts to openly interfere in the affairs of sovereign Syria on the part of some countries, Russia has every right to protect its interests, including through helping the legitimate Syrian regime to repulse external and internal aggression," the statement says.