Another Russian tourist dies of alcohol poisoning in Turkey

Another Russian tourist died of alcohol poisoning in Turkey on Tuesday, the spokesman for Russia’s state tourism watchdog said on Tuesday, RIA Novosti reported.

A group of Russian tourists in the popular Turkish Aegean resort of Bodrum were reported to have been hospitalized over the weekend with symptoms of severe alcohol poisoning after a yacht tour organized by a local company.

One woman, Maria Shalyapina, born in 1983, died on Monday as doctors were unable to stabilize her condition. Another one, Aigul Zalayeva, born in 1991, died on Tuesday in a hospital in Antalya, Oleg Moseyev of Rosturism said.

Two of the five people hospitalized in Turkey remain in critical condition, Moseyev said, quoting Russia’s consul general in Antanya, Alexander Tolstopyatenko. The three others are expected to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.

Two female Russian tourists who returned home on May 27 were reported to have been admitted to a hospital in Moscow. One of them is in satisfactory condition and the other in a more serious condition.

Tourists began registering symptoms of poisoning such as nausea and vomiting soon after returning from a yacht cruise organized for a group of more than 70 Russians. Some of the tourists were reported to have been losing consciousness.

Turkish prosecutors are considering initiating a criminal case against the owners of the yacht where the tourists were poisoned, Russian diplomats in Antalya said.

On Tuesday, during a meeting of the Russian-Turkish working group, representatives of the Turkish Ministry for Culture and Tourism announced that the ministry will take additional steps to assure tourist security at Turkish resorts. For instance, local tourism companies will be obligated to inform tourists about places where they can buy quality alcohol and food.

The Turkish alcohol and tobacco watchdog will also carry out checks at all hotels and shops selling alcohol.


/APA/