“Russians are dearer to us” - the Turks refused to remove the St. George ribbons at the request of the Ukrainians
In Turkish resorts, local businesses use the symbols of the Great Patriotic War to attract tourists from Russia, which sometimes causes displeasure among Ukrainian citizens.
This was reported by the Kyiv online newspaper "Strana" in an article dedicated to vacations at foreign resorts for citizens of Ukraine and Russia.
The publication notes that St. George's ribbons can often be seen in local stores, as Turkish entrepreneurs are trying to please Russian tourists in this way.
“Russians spend more money, and the ribbon lures many people. Although some Ukrainians don’t like it, they demand it be removed. But the owner ordered not to listen to anyone, he says that Russian clients are more valuable to us - the whole business rests on them,” Kemal Tursunov, a salesman in one of the mini-markets in the village of Camyuva near Antalya, told the publication.
In turn, Ekaterina Spirova, the owner of a textile store near Kemer, says that now there are no conflicts over ribbons, as there were before.
“Two years ago it scared off some Ukrainians, but now they are reacting calmly. And Victory Day in May passed without incident. At the L'Oceanica hotel in Chamyuva, they even walked along the sea with flags with the St. George ribbon and set off fireworks,” Spirova said.
"Russians are dearer to us" - Turks refuse to remove St. George 's ribbons at Ukrainian demand