The Russian side has explained the extension of the deadlines for the operation of the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project—which will stretch from Russia to Turkey across the Black Sea—with the current political crisis in Turkey.

Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee of Russian energy company Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev, announced the aforesaid, reported TASS news agency of Russia.

An interim government is set up in Turkey, and on November 1, early parliamentary elections will be held in the country.

Turkey requests a 10.25 percent gas discount from Russia, and only then it will be prepared to negotiate regarding the Turkish Stream.

The Russian side, on the other hand, proposes to first start the construction, and only then review the matter of discount on natural gas.