MOSCOW - There are up to 90,000 Turkish workers and businessmen in Russia now, and, taking into account their family members, the overall number of Turkish citizens staying in Russia could be close to 200,000, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“The Turks themselves claim that there are up to 90,000 businessmen and construction workers (in Russia). And if you take their family members, this could be up to 200,000,” Peskov said in a televised interview shown in a Saturday news program hosted by Sergei Brilyov.
He also pointed out to a significant volume of Russian-Turkish trade turnover that has existed until lately.
In this light, Peskov mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remark in which he described the ruining of the Russian-Turkish relationship, which had reached a level of advanced partnership, as horrible.
“Putin said that we perceived Turkey as an ally. And this all was ruined literally in an instant by one shot fired from a Turkish F-16,” he added.
