Ankara can’t close the straits since this contradicts international agreements, and evidence of this is the information according to which two Russian warships crossed through the straits without any hindrances a couple of hours ago. This is what Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Ruben Safrastyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“As far as the S-400s are concerned, it is clear that Turkey has been leading talks with the Americans over the purchase of Patriot systems for a long time, but the US wants Turkey to refuse the transaction with Moscow and then consider the sale of arms. Washington will definitely take advantage of the escalation of the situation in Idlib,” he said.

Today, citizens of Istanbul held a protest with anti-Russian slogans near the Consulate of Russia in central Istanbul. This comes after the bombardment by Syrian government forces in Idlib that left 33 Turkish soldiers dead and several soldiers wounded.

In addition, the mass media spread information according to which Turkey considers the possibility of closing the Bosphorus and Dardanelle straits for warships as a response to the escalation of the situation in Idlib and may delay the deployment of the S-400s.