Syrian Kurdish group may open mission in Russia: Paper

The Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union (PYD) plans to open a mission in Russia, a move that would anger Turkey which sees the party as a terrorist group, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported on Oct. 20. 

Leaders of the Kurdish group will hold consultations with the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow on Oct. 21, Kommersant said, including talks about further steps toward the opening of a Russian office. 

The purpose of the mission is to strengthen cooperation with Moscow in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the newspaper said. 

Turkey suspects Russia, which launched air strikes in Syria three weeks ago, has been lending support to the PYD and its armed wing YPG. 

Ankara has warned Moscow it would not tolerate Kurdish territorial gains close to its frontiers in north-western Syria. 

Kommersant quoted a Turkish diplomatic source as saying the opening of a mission by the PYD would provoke a harsh reaction from Ankara, with which Moscow already has strained relations over Syria.  

Turkey completes one-third of portable wall on border with Syria

Feminist initiative #MoreWomen photoshops men out of politics to underline inequalities

8 funny responses to the 'thrones' that welcomed Merkel in Istanbul

Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty

Exhibition shows Istanbul through eyes of children

Secret weapons of Turkish army: locally produced rocket launchers, missile systems

The bugs of Ankara: The weirdest scenes that anyone can run into in Turkish capital

A bird's eye view tour of Turkey's eastern provinces of Van and Hakkari

Turkish man with four wives has his 32nd child

Meet the Turkish Superhumans

Pope Francis prays in Istanbul's Blue Mosque

...