Russian ambassador in Ankara summoned to Foreign Ministry

ANKARA

Russian Ambassador in Ankara Andrey Karlov has been summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry late Thursday, according to a statement from the Turkish ministry.

The statement said that Turkish diplomatic offices in Russia and the premises of Turkish companies operating in the country have come under a number of physical attacks in the aftermath of the downing of the Russian warplane that violated Turkish airspace Tuesday.

"We sadly see that our representation offices in Russia and Turkish companies in the country have been targeted in recent days," the Turkish ministry statement said.

The statement also said the Russian ambassador was told to convey Turkey's expectation from Moscow officials to take additional security measures to protect Turkish diplomatic offices and premises of Turkish companies in the country.

"In line with international law, the host country is responsible for the safety of foreign missions [on its territory] under all circumstances. Our concerns over this unacceptable situation has been brought to the attention of the Russian Ambassador," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in the statement.

Turkey’s embassy in Moscow was hit by stones, eggs and paint hurled by a group on Nov. 25.

An angry crowd demonstrating against Turkey’s recent downing of a Russian warplane, which violated the Turkish airspace, attacked the building Wednesday, Anadolu Agency’s correspondent in the Russian capital reported.

Windows in the second and third floors of the building were smashed.

Photographs on Twitter showed the street outside the embassy on Rostovskiy Pereulok covered in debris.

On Nov. 25, Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its Russian SU-24 fighter jet had been shot down, which crashed in the Syrian region of Bayirbucak close to Yayladagi district of southern Hatay province.

This was not the first time Russian fighter jets had violated Turkish airspace.

In early October, Russian warplanes breached Turkish airspace for which Russian officials apologized and pledged that no such incident would be repeated.

Turkey had also renewed its warning to implement engagement rules, including a military response to violations of Turkish airspace.