You're reading: Russian Culture Ministry freezes ties with International Organization of Turkic Culture

MOSCOW - The Russian Culture Ministry has announced the decision to discontinue all communication with the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), a ministry spokesperson told Interfax on Nov. 27.

“You are hereby informed of the position of the Russian Culture Ministry on the need to immediately stop all contact between Russian constituent regions and the international TURKSOY organization,” reads a copy of Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky’s governmental telegram to the heads of the Russian constituent regions, which was obtained by Interfax.

TURKSOY is an international cultural organization that brings together Turkic-language countries. It is headquartered in Ankara.