ANTALYA (Turkey), March 3 Several Turkish businessmen intend to file lawsuits against American officials who threaten them with sanctions for trading with Russia, writes the Aydınlık newspaper.
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"Turkish businessmen we interviewed said they were preparing to file lawsuits against U.S. officials who visit companies and financial institutions and threaten to sanction them, as well as against banks and bank branches that block money transfers and report all personal information to the United States,” the publication noted.
The newspaper also added that the US Department of Commerce deleted all information about diplomats at the Consulate General in Istanbul who threatened Turkish companies with sanctions.
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At the end of February, Aydınlık reported that diplomats from the US Embassy and Consulate General in Ankara and Istanbul were visiting Turkish companies and financial institutions, threatening them over trade relations with Russia.
Moscow's Ambassador to Ankara Alexey Erkhov said that US representatives are «terrorizing» Turkish businesses working with Russia, and Washington's pressure on these companies contradicts the norms of interstate communication.
Chairman of the Turkish VATAN (Homeland) party Dogu Perincek in an interview called on Ankara to declare American diplomats persona non grata who threaten businessmen for trading with Moscow. According to him, the economy is at a standstill due to payment problems between Turkey and Russia.