Moscow responded to the accusations of ethnic cleansing Ankara in Syria – RBC

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova

Photo by Artem Geodakyan / TASS

The statements of Ankara that Russia is pursuing “ethnic cleansing” in Syria are groundless and unworthy. Such a statement was made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova, reports Tass. “They [the statement] talk about complete isolation of the Turkish leadership from life, from the reality of what is happening in the region, – she said.

« These unworthy statements groundless accusations that we hear from Ankara, They speak for themselves. They are more and more like manifestations impotent rage “, – stressed Foreign Ministry spokesman.

According to Zakharova, statements by the Turkish leadership Storo us – it’s basically” perepevanie “those motives which are heard in the speeches of the country’s leader “Then it’s picked up by performers and retold at different levels,” – said Zakharov.

On the eve of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that Russia is pursuing “ethnic cleansing” in the north of the province of Latakia. They are, in his words, are intended to make the Syrian Turkmen and in opposition Bashar Assad Sunnis to leave the area they occupy. Thus, Moscow is believed Davutoglu wants to protect “the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the Russian base at Latakia and Tartous».

Earlier, the part of the Turkish leadership to Russia repeatedly been accused in air strikes on the positions of the Syrian militias and attacks on Syrian Turkmen. Information about Russian attacks on members of the ethnic group to appear in the media. In late November, Reuters reported that Russian aircraft struck at least 17 air strikes on the territory of the north-west Syria, the occupied Syrian Turkmens. Information, as the agency has been obtained on a comparison of data the Russian Defense Ministry. In an interview with Reuters the head of the Supreme Council of Turkmens in Syria, Samir Alo said that thousands of Turkmen families were forced to flee to the border. Moscow, however, rejects these accusations and stressed that Russia’s actions in Syria are aimed solely at combating terrorists.

The relationship between Moscow and Ankara deteriorated after the attack on the Turkish Air Force Su-24 bomber. According to the Turkish side, the plane was shot down after violating the airspace of the State. Russia, in turn, insists that the military aircraft outside Syria did not leave.

On board the Su-24 were two soldiers – a pilot and navigator Oleg Peshkov Constantine Murahtin. Once the plane was shot down they were able to eject. However, after the deputy commander of the armed group of Syrian Turkmens Alpaslan Selick he said that the pilots were killed. “Our comrades opened fire into the air, and they [the pilots] were killed in the air” – he said on November 24 in an interview with Reuters.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the death of only one person – the pilot Peshkov. According to the War Department, he was shot from the ground. Sturman Russian forces managed to rescue and deliver to the air base Hmeymim.