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Ankara assures Moscow tourists are safe following coup attempt — ministry

Russian deputy foreign minister says Moscow closely follows the situation in Turkey
Turkish police officers loyal to the government in Istanbul AP Photo/Emrah Gurel
Turkish police officers loyal to the government in Istanbul
© AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

MOSCOW, July 18. /TASS/. Ankara has assured Moscow that Russian citizens vacationing in Turkey are safe following a military coup attempt, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Meshkov said on Monday.

"We are closely following the situation in Turkey. We received assurances from the Turkish side that Russian citizens in this country are safe. We proceed from this," Meshkov said, adding that Russia maintains constant contacts with Turkey, several telephone conversations held.

He noted that talks with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Kemal Aydin on importance of protecting Russian citizens and returning them home.

The process of returning Russians from Turkey proceeds in the routing mode, he added. 

"The process of returning our citizens proceeds in the regular mode - first of all those who could not take their flights which were cancelled and those whose holiday is coming to an end," Meshkov said.

"Some of our citizens are vacationing at hotels in Istanbul, Antalya and other resorts," he added.

A group of insurgents attempted a coup in Turkey overnight to Saturday. Bombs were dropped on the parliament building and the presidential palace in Ankara. The country’s leadership later said that the coup was quashed. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the situation is under the control of the official government.

According to latest reports, 290 people died and 1,440 more were injured, not including participants in the coup attempt. Over 6,000 people were arrested after a failed coup attempt.