Turkey explains entry rules for those vaccinated with Russian vaccines

Russians entering Turkey will be allowed in without presenting test results for covid-19 only if they are vaccinated with the Sputnik V vaccine, a representative of the Turkish Ministry of HEALTH told RIA Novosti.

“Turkey accepts vaccination documents approved by WHO or our country for emergency use upon entry. Of the Russian vaccines, only Sputnik V received such approval in Turkey,” the source said. Certificates of vaccination with CoviVac, EpiVacCorona and Sputnik Light will not be considered valid by the Turkish authorities.

Earlier, tour operators announced a change in the procedure for the entry of Russians into Turkey. However, the Association of Tour Operators of RUSSIA (ATOR) has previously warned that the circular of the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs, which determines the procedure for tourists entering the country, can be interpreted in such a way that only Sputnik V is unconditionally recognized from Russian vaccines.

“The Turkish Interior Ministry circular does state that foreigners who have “received at least two doses (or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine) of two-component vaccines approved by the World Health Organization or Turkey for emergency use are exempted from providing tests.” Accordingly, since EpiVacCorona, KoviVac and Sputnik Light are not among the approved ones, only Sputnik V remains, the only vaccine of all Russians, although not recognized by WHO, but officially approved by Turkey for emergency use on its territory,” the article says on the ATOR website.