“The accusations are groundless, the sanctions have not been violated.
They are trying to hold Turkey accountable ... As other tourists use different cards here, so do Russian tourists use these cards here (MIR. -
RT
),” he said in an interview with NTV.
Earlier, the Financial Times, citing sources, wrote that the US and the EU plan to increase pressure on Turkish banks to join the MIR payment system.
Turkish bank İş Bankası has already suspended the use of the Russian payment system due to the threat of sanctions.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Elizabeth Rosenberg said that Washington is concerned about the possibility of circumventing anti-Russian sanctions using the MIR payment system and will continue to work with Turkey on this issue.
The Russian Embassy in Turkey recommended that Russian tourists carry cash for everyday expenses when traveling.