Turkey has confirmed that it has closed the Bosphorus to Russia
Фото: OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has declared that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a war and that his country is acting following the Montreux Convention, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
"In the beginning, it was a Russian attack and we evaluated it with experts, soldiers, and lawyers. Now it has turned into a war. This is not a military operation; it is officially a state of war," Çavuşoğlu was quoted by the Hurriyet Daily News.
Article 19 of the Montreux Convention states that during a war when Turkey is not a belligerent party, warships enjoy the right of complete freedom of passage and navigation. But warships of belligerent states are not allowed to pass through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, with certain exceptions.
In particular, warships separated from their bases may return to them.
"She should not be involved in a war after saying she will go back to the base and passing through the Bosphorus", Çavuşoğlu said.
We remind that Belgium will provide Ukraine with automatic rifles and anti-tank weapons.
