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Turkey Responds To Russia’s Military Build-Up With Shipments Of Bad Fruit

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Jacob Bojesson Foreign Correspondent
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The passive-aggressive spat between Turkey and Russia has reached a point where the Turks sent contaminated fruits and vegetables to counter threats of retaliation over the Nov. 24 downing of a Russian aircraft.

Russia’s agriculture inspection returned 50 tons of mandarin oranges contaminated by “live larvae of the Mediterranean fruit fly.” The Russians previously detained a shipment of Turkish tomatoes, claiming it was infected with insects of the thrips species.

Moscow has basically put an embargo on all imports from Turkey until further notice. Restrictions on fruits and vegetables have been delayed until Jan. 1 due to a shortage of mandarine oranges, a common part of the Russian New Year’s celebrations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said Turkey will regret its action but remains secret about how the Russians will retaliate.

“If somebody thought that after committing a treacherous war crime — the killing of our people — it would be possible to get away with mere restrictions on the trade of tomatoes, or some other restrictions … then they are grossly mistaken,” Putin said in his state of the nation address Thursday.

Russia is building up its military presence around Turkey with attack and transport helicopters arriving Monday at an Armenian base close to the Turkish border.

Turkey accused Russia of military provocation after a soldier was seen with a rocket launcher on his shoulder as a ship cruised through Istanbul Sunday morning. (RELATED: Turkey Is Literally Pulling Russian Naval Ships Over To Give Them Tickets)

Turkey warned the Russian Ambassador that similar provocations will be met with counterattacks.

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