Russians living in the north of the island on Thursday called for direct flights to Russia.

The president of the ‘Northern Cyprus Solidarity Association of Russian Speakers’, Marina Kocadal, told Ankara Anatolia (AA) news agency that they would be very happy if direct flights started operating between Russia and the ‘TRNC’, Cyprus News Agency reported.

According to Kibris Postasi, as reported by the Press and Information Office, Kocadal also said that “the TRNC is a country with many advantages in terms of conducting trade,” noting that she lives and works in the north and deals with trade.

Meanwhile, Russian businessman Mergen Hudeynazarov explained that for five years there has been trade between his country and the administration in the north and argued that the request for direct flights between Russia and “TRNC “, is not only his personal request, but also a request of Russian citizens living in Cyprus.

He also said that if direct flights start, the price of air tickets to Russia will be reduced and this will help women and children to travel, he added.

In the past few months, Turkish Cypriot media has reported that Moscow was ready to open a consulate in the north of the island and to establish routes for direct flights to Tymbou (Ercan) airport.

According to Russian news outlet Izvestiya, two high-ranking sources from the Russian foreign ministry, behind the decision to start air routes and open a consulate, is the aim of supporting around 10,000 Russians who live in the north.

The Russian embassy in Nicosia has denied that there would be direct flights.