Russia says Turkey should pay compensation for downed jet

Moscow: A top Russian diplomat said today that Turkey should pay compensation for the Russian warplane it shot down near the Syrian border last month.

The downing of the Su-24 and the deaths of two Russian servicemen have strained the traditionally warm relations between the two countries.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov told state news agency RIA Novosti on Wednesday that it still expects Ankara to apologize, pay the compensation and provide guarantees that it will never happen again.

The Russian Su-24 was on a bombing mission near the Turkish-Syrian border when it was shot down on Nov. 24. Turkey said the jet violated its airspace, a claim that Moscow has denied.