Body of Russian pilot killed in Turkey to be sent home

The body of a Russian pilot killed when his plane was shot down by Turkey last week will be handed over to a Russian representative after being retrieved from Syria, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said today.

"The pilot who lost his life during the air violation was received by us on the [Syrian] border last night," Mr Davutoglu said.

He added that a Russian official would travel "soon" to the southern Hatay region with a Turkish military official to take possession of the body.

The Russian embassy in Turkey said Oleg Peskov's body would be flown from Hatay in the presence of Russia's military attache to an aerodrome in Ankara where it would be met by the ambassador.

One of the two pilots aboard the plane which was downed on Tuesday was shot dead in Syria after parachuting from the burning aircraft, while the second was found safe and sound.

"In accordance with their [Russian] religious tradition, funeral arrangements were carried out by Orthodox priests in Hatay," Mr Davutoglu said...
 rte.ie
29/11/15
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