Russian Federation Council Comments on Erdogan's Decision to Hand Over Azov Commanders to Kyiv

The handover of the Azov national battalion commanders (designated as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation) by Ankara to Kyiv, contrary to previously reached agreements, along with statements regarding NATO’s expedited entry into Ukraine, indicates that Turkey is shifting from a neutral country to an unfriendly nation. This opinion was expressed in an interview with TASS by Viktor Bondarev, head of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.

“Recent events of the past weeks, unfortunately, clearly demonstrate that Turkey is gradually and inexorably transforming from a neutral country into an unfriendly nation. After Ukrainian President Zelensky's visit to Ankara on July 7, 2023, the Turkish side has made provocative decisions. The Turkish authorities handed over the leaders of the Azov terrorist organization, who were presumed to remain under house arrest in Turkey until the completion of the special military operation (this was a fundamental condition in the prisoner exchange agreement between Russia and Ukraine). Turkey deliberately ignored this. Additionally, it advocated for NATO’s accelerated admission of Ukraine and the construction of an offensive drone factory in Ukraine,” said the senator.

In his opinion, such unfriendly actions were based on both NATO's pressure and the actual cessation of the grain deal. “The duplicitous Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously made foolish and impulsive decisions; he was flirting with the Islamic State (a terrorist organization), influencing the downing of Russian aircraft, providing drones to Ukraine, and stirring up Turkic peoples to create a Greater Turan,” Bondarev noted.

“Such behavior can only be described as a stab in the back,” added the head of the Federation Council's Committee.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that he is returning with the Azov national battalion commanders from Turkey. Previously, on Friday, he had met with Erdogan.