Turkey has denied further access to the Russian Bosphorus and Dardanelles Strait warships, the German News Agency (dpa) reported today, citing an interview given last night by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Haburk σταθakkos ούrvak σταθakusko.
Under the Montreux Treaty of 1936, Turkey controls the Bosphorus and Dardanelles that connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean. While merchant ships can cross the Straits freely, warships are subject to certain restrictions.
Moscow had submitted requests for the passage of ships, which it withdrew at the request of the Turkish side, Tsavousoglu added in an interview with Haberturk. Russia had requested the passage of some of its ships that have not been registered in the Black Sea.
Soner Chagaptai of the Washington Institute told dpa that the restrictions should not be a disadvantage for Russia at the moment as Russian President Vladimir Putin has all the ships he needs in the Black Sea.