Mikhail Khodorkovsky

I have read Erdogan’s ‘regrets’ about the plane the Turks brought down. The motivation is clearly pragmatic, but the sentiments expressed are the right ones. It was a pity about the pilot, although it is now clear that the Turks warned we should keep away from people they regard as their citizens. And we entered their airspace as well. But starting armed hostilities between two major states? The subtext is clear: the meeting between two authoritarian rams on a narrow bridge resulted in a death, and a massive confrontation was narrowly averted.

Russians have been paying double for substitute Turkish goods for over a year, and can no longer take their holidays in their favourite places. The Turks have lost 15% of their income from tourism and exports. Someone had to demonstrate a greater degree of intelligence and pragmatism.