MOSCOW, June 29 (RAPSI) –  Russian President Vladimir Putin during the meeting with the government on Wednesday ordered removal of administrative restrictions from tourist trips to Turkey.

Putin also instructed the Cabinet to begin the process of normalizing trade and economic contacts with Turkey as a whole.

Relations between Russia and Turkey became troubled after the Turkish Air Force downed Russia’s Su-24 jet in Syria on November 24, 2015. Two pilots managed to eject from the plane. Lieutenant-colonel Oleg Peshkov was killed by ground fire from militants when parachuting, his navigator survived. Another serviceman, marine Alexander Pozynich, was killed during the rescue mission.

Putin described the murder of Russian pilot as “a stab in the back delivered by accomplices of the terrorists”, imposed economic restrictions on Turkey and demanded an apology. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented apologies for the incident this week.

On Wednesday, Putin and Erdogan in a telephone conversation which lasted for 40 minutes agreed on normalization of relations between Russia and Turkey.