Sochi Hijack Attempt over Ukrainian Prisoners

A Ukrainian hijacker tried to divert a Turkey-bound Pegasus Airlines flight to Sochi on Friday on the day of the Winter Olympics' opening ceremony. The 45-year old man, identified by Turkish media as Artem Hozlov, told the crew he had placed a bomb on the plane. He apparently demanded that the Ukrainian government release detained anti-government protesters. (AP, 8 February)

The crew reportedly tricked the hijacker and landed the plane in Istanbul where he was subdued by security officers who sneaked on board.

As Professor Juan Cole has noted in his Informed Comment today, the hijacker, presumably an Eastern Orthodox Christian threatened to blow up an airplane full of innocent passengers. But the press reports, including the AP article used here, did not refer to him as “terrorist.” The plot was foiled by Turkish officers, presumably Muslims. But if the hijacker had been a Muslim, the press would likely have declared him a terrorist. And the press would have written extensively about the heroes who foiled the plot if the security officers were not Muslims.

Photo credit: The scene at Istanbul airport after security officers foiled a hijacking attemp of a Pegasus Airlines. (AP/Informed Comment) 

Nuclear Talks In Istanbul

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said today that the nuclear talks between Iran and the world’s six major powers will be held in Istanbul on 14 April [Reuters, 8 April]. Iran had previously voiced strong objection to the choice of Istanbul as the venue for the talks.

Iran Nuclear Talks: Disaccord Over Venue

Crucial nuclear talks due to start on 13 April between Iran and the six major world powers are in a state of confusion already as Tehran today said it no longer wants Istanbul as the venue. Instead, according to Iraq's foreign ministry, Iran has asked Baghdad to host the talks. Iran’s state-owned TV said on its website that Iran is also ready to hold talks in China.

Iran's sudden about-face on Istanbul is a serious indication of the worsening relations with Turkey over its position on Syria. Turkey has called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key Iranian ally, to step down to end the year-long bloody crisis in his country.

"Turkey is now excluded," said Aladin Borujerdi, the chairman of the Iranian Majlis foreign affairs committee, referring to the venue for the nuclear talks. "That is the position of parliament and the government.

"Taking into account the extremist and illogical position of Turkey on Syria and the recent conference on Syria, Turkey has de facto lost any competence to host the meeting," Borujerdi added.

Ahmadinejad in Istanbul

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressing the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries which kicked off in Istanbul on Monday 9 May 2011. IRNA Photo.

President Ahmadinejad is greeted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN Conference. 8,000 delegates converged on Istanbul to attend the event. 9 May 2011. IRNA Photo.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meeting his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on the sidelines of the UN Conference. 9 May 2011. Today's Zaman Photo.