News / Russia

Turkey downing of Russian jet pre-planned: Russian colonel

Saturday, 28 November 2015 10:59 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 28 November 2015 2:27 PM ]

Colonel General Viktor Bondarev, Russia’s Air Force chief

The commander-in-chief of Russia’s Air Force says a recent attack on a Russian fighter jet in the Syrian airspace by Turkish warplanes had been planned in advance.

Colonel General Viktor Bondarev made the remarks on Friday, insisting that the strike had been an intentional one and calling it an “unprecedented backstab,” Russia Today reported.

On Tuesday, Turkish fighter jets shot down a Sukhoi Su-24M, which Ankara accused of having violated Turkish airspace. Russia rejects any such violation.

An image showing a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M warplane going down in flames in Syria near the Turkish border, November 24, 2015

Bondarev pointed to the readiness of the Turkish media to report on the matter, saying it did not take the outlets long after the attack to release a professionally-made video of the incident.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has called the attack an act of betrayal by a country Moscow considered to be its friend, saying it is impossible for the Turkish Air Force not to have recognized the Russian plane.

Putin has said that Turkey must ensure that such an incident never happens again. In Thursday remarks at a presser with visiting French President Francois Hollande by his side, Putin said Ankara is instead offering “unintelligible explanations and statements that there is nothing to apologize about.”

Russia has been carrying out airstrikes against Daesh, al-Nusra Front, and other terrorist groups in Syria since September 30. The aerial military campaign came upon a request by Damascus.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk