Russia raids Turkish companies, sends imported goods back

Russian police have been raiding Turkish companies in different regions of Russia and, in some cases, have suspended their operations, two Turkish businessmen with investments in the country have told the media.

Moscow has also started sending back Turkish trucks loaded with exports at the border and stopped Turkish tourists - who normally do not need visas  - entering the country, at least two businessmen said.

Moscow's move comes after Turkish fighter jets shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 warplane on Tuesday for allegedly violating Turkish airspace.

The two sides, who are at odds over the Syrian crisis, have opposite claims over whether the airspace breach is true or not.

"Turkish companies in Russia, particularly construction companies, are being raided," a Turkish executive with a manufacturing company active in Russia told Al Jazeera, on condition of anonymity.

"They check if anyone with expired or no working visas is actively working in these companies or not. They check if working regulations were implemented or not.

"There have been serious breaches in this area within construction companies and Russian authorities know it. Activities of some companies have been frozen on these grounds."

Russian authorities had hinted at new commercial measures against Turkey following the downing of the country's warplane.

Russia carried out its first air strikes in Syria on 30 September, saying the Islamic State and "other terrorist groups" were the targets.

Turkey has long been campaigning for the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has joined other countries in criticising Russia's air campaign, saying the strikes are mainly hitting rebel groups opposed to Assad rather than IS.

Turkey had warned Russia over violations of its airspace multiple times before Tuesday's downing by Turkish air forces, Ankara says.