Russia lifts ban on study abroad in Turkey

MOSCOW

Amid revived ties with Ankara, Russia announced Thursday that it is lifting restrictions on study abroad in Turkey.

Speaking to Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency, Nikolai Toivonen, head of the Education and Science Ministry’s International Department, said, “For some time there have been restrictions on Russian students traveling to Turkey to study. We couldn’t ensure their safety. [But now] we have permitted charter flights to Turkey. So there are no restrictions on education.”

Bilateral relations had soured last November, when Turkey shot down a Russian jet violating Turkish border Syrian border, but were mended this June and July through a letter and subsequent telephone calls between the countries’ leaders.

As part of that process, the Russian government is gradually lifting its restrictions on Turkey.

Reporting by Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan : Writing by Ahmet Sait Akcay