‘Russian refusal to issue visas to carrier violates aviation rules’

Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Wednesday Russia's refusal to issue visas to crew members working for budget carrier Pegasus was an "arbitrary" measure and violated international aviation rules.

İstanbul-based Pegasus said on Tuesday it suspended flights to and from Russia until Jan. 13 after authorities in Moscow failed to give its crew visas. Turkey would use diplomatic channels to appeal to Russia to abide by "international norms," Yıldırım said at a news conference.