om

r.c
THE LEGAL ISSUES ON THE

ito
SHOOT-DOWN OF THE
RUSSIAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
on
on 24Iİ1 of Novembcr 2015
cM

By Erkan AĞIN
Major/JAG
di

Turkish General Staft'

or
.N

* My views/siides are ali in my individual personal

capacity and represent neither the Turkish Government
nor Turkish Armed Forces
w
w
w
 om
r.c
nıiKEf shot l o r a IET i to
on
UNIDENTIFIEI)
cM

Vol XCIH, No. 31) Tuesday. November 24,2015 1.23

W
İATMEASIRESCANBEIAKEN?
di

Was Sovsreipty Violated?

or

YES! Q , ö

S 1
.N

SELF-lEFEHSn
YES!

/ VIYtKtHAl
'■ { UYU
w

. . . .. \ UKM U» it ilt â .
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
dic
M
on
ito
r.c
om
 om
r.c
CUSTOMARY

ito
INT.LAW
on
"every State has complete and
cM
exclusive sovereignty över the airspace
above its territory"
di
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
TREATY LAW

ito
on
Paris Convention of 1919
cM

Chicago Convention of 1944

di

»A T M * K * »
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
Chicago Convention of 1944

to
S o v e re ig n ty -A rt.l
The contracting States recognize that

i
every State has complete and
exdusive sovereignty över the airspace
abcve its territory.
on
Territory-Art.2
The territory of a State shall be deemed to be
the larıd areas and territorial v/aters adjacent
cM

thereto under th e sovereignty, suzerainty,

protection or mandate of such State

C iv il a nd S ta te a irc ra ft Art.3
a) This Convention shall be applicable only to civil
aircraft. and shall not be applicable to State aircraft.
di

b) Aircraft used ın military, customs and poliçe

Services shall be deemed to be State aircraft.
or

c) No State aircraft of a contracting State shall fly

över the territory of another State or land thereon
vâthout authorization by spedal agreemenı or
othenvise. and in accordance vvith terms thereof.
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
• Chicago Convention
i to
Sovereignty-Art.l
on
The contracting States recognize that
every State has complete and
M
exclusive sovereignty över the airspace
above its territory.
c

Territory-Art.2
di

The territory of a State shall be deemed to be

the land areas and territorial vvaters adjacent
thereto under the sovereignty, suzerainty,
or

protection or mandate of such State.

.N

Civil and State aircraft-Art.3

a) This Convention shall be applicable oı
aircraft, and shall not be applicable to stt
w
w
w
 ı ±

om
F ig ü r* l M jrıtıtn* Zoaet
(ScbvfielJ. 2003 18)

r.c
C ivil and State aircraft-Art.3
ito
a) This Convention shall be applicable only to civil
aircraft, and shall not be applicable to State aircraft.
on
b) A ircra ft used in military, customs and poliçe
Services shall be deemed to be State aircraft.
cM

c) No State aircraft of a contracting State shall fly

över th e territory of another State or land thereon
di

vvithout authorization by special agreement or

othervvise, and in accordance with terms thereof.
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
ito
CASE LAW

on
Nicaragua Case:

“unauthorized overflight of a state’s

cM
territory by aircraft belonging to or under
the control of the governmerıt of another
State” directly infringes the territorial
sovereignty of the overflovvn State
(pa.251).
di
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
i to
on
cM
di
or
.N

• lwo SU-24 • 30 tninules priur to llıe violaliuıı time • alt: 19.000 feet

• unidentified • warned 10 times/5 minutes. • 1.15 mi. depth/1,36 mi. length

w

• close to Yayladağı-pop : 27.347 • via "Emergency Guard” • 17 seconds

w
w
 om
r.c
ito
on
“The unknovvn air traffic position to Humaymim 020
radial 26 miles. This is Turkish Air Force Speaking
cM
on guard, you are approaching Turkish air space,
change your heading south immediately."
di
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
to
• no response - no change in track

i
on
• one SU-24 been engaged by Turkish F-16s

- other SU-24 left the Turkish airspace

cM

• the intruder was stili in Turkish airspace when hit

• cıashed into the adjacent territory in Syria

Pr .
r/İ£ f
di
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
ito
TGS informed the military attache of RF
about the incident with valid radar and
on
aircraft records
cM
RF has not delivered any evidence to
Turkish side except verbal denials
regarding any violation.
di
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r .c
i to
on
NATO SG STOLTENBERG :
M

“the information they have is consistent with the

c

information the allies have”

di
or
.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
dic
M
on
ito
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
i to
r.c
om
 om
r.c
ito
RESPONSES
on
forcing the intruder to leave the airspace or to land
cM
control of the intruder's movements until it exits

use of force against the intruder

di

İn addition:
resort to the local courts
international judicial/administrative actions,
or

diplomatic measures
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
to
DEPENDENT ON

i
on
aircraft is civilian or military ?

aircraft is in distress ?
cM

State of war or peace ?

existing political climate ?

di

hostile or peaceful intentions ?

or
.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
c M
vvhal measures?

on
ito
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
dic
M
on
ito
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
 om
r.c
riğhts and obligations

ito
ol* States
iıı UN Charter
on
right of self defense against a
cM

civilian aireraft?

If it is used as m eans of armed

attack like 9\11 attack?
di

a fortiori - m ilitary aireraft

or
.N
w
w
w
w
w

YES!
w
.N
or
SELF-DEFEİSE?
di
cM
on
i to
r.c
om
iearch: 16437479
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
 om
r.c
ito
SELF-DEFENSE?
on
actual or imminent armed attack?
cM

mere violation of airspace?

necessary - proportional?
di
or
.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
 om
f ARMED ATTACK

r.c
ito
liACKCiKOlM)
on
M
d ic
or

y
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
T R -S Y R . A G R EEM EN T

ito
on
Procotol of 1969

aiming at preventing violations of airspace

cM

"neither parties aircrafts shall approach the either side of

the border more than 5 km"
di
or

1969
.N
w
w
w
 om
I

r.c
2011

to
SYRIAN INTRUSIONS

i
on
• 5 x Syrian helicopters airspace violations
cM

• without being attacked

di
or
.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
i to
r.c
om
 om
r.c
ito
an UNARMED Turkish RF-4E
on
accidentally entered Syrian airspace,
while on training
cM

shot down vvithout any vvarning by Syria

in International airspace
di

pilots were killed ?

or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
REACTIONS

ito
on
• letter to the UNSC: "hostile act" and
"a serious threat to peace and
security in the region"
M
• NATO SG Rasmussen: "İt is another
example of the Syrian authorities'
ic

disregard for international norms."

d
or
.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
 om
I

r.c
2013-2015
ito
ENGAGEMENTS
on
September 16, 2013 - Syrian 1XMİ-17 helicopter
cM

March 23, 2014 - Syrian MIG-23 aircraft

May 16, 2015 - Syrian “SHAHED-129” UAV

di
or

October 16, 2015 - an unidentified air vehicle

.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
BORDER-CROSSINGINCIDENTS

ito
• Several shell or rocket attacks from Syrian side killed
and wounded innocent civilians
on
• 3 October 2012, killed five and injured at least
ten Turkish citizens in the border town of
cM

Akçakale in Şanlıurfa Province.

• NAC: "The alliance continues to stand by Turkey

and demands the immediate cessation of such
di

aggressive acts against an ally, and urges the

Syrian regime to put an end to flagrant violations
or

of international law.”
.N

2011-2015 —
i
w
w
w
 om
i

r.c
2015

ito
ENVIRONMENT
on
• very volatile and hostile environment against Turkey

• accumulation of ali these incidents, causing hundred of

cM
life of innocent nationals

• threshold in assessing of an armed attack very low

di
or
.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
 om
r.c
to
Previous Incidents

i
on
civil/mil.aircraft - treated differently
cM

mil.aircraft - lower threshold for use of force

di
or
.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
i to
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
i to
r.c
om
 om
r.c
August 24, 1976

to
Turkish military aircraft (RF-5A)

i
violated Russian airspace -1-1,5 km
on
accidentally - due to the weather conditions
cM

hit by Soviet Russia with SAM

di

without any warning

* S
or

pilot & vvreckage of the aircraft landed in Turkey

.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
1Septem ber 2,1958,

■US m ilitary aircraft, (Lockheed C-130A-II-LM)

ito
■departed İncirlik Airbase in Turkey

■on a reconnaissance mission along the Turkish-Soviet Republic of Armenia border

on
■was to fly a course parallel to the Soviet frontier,

■not to approach the border closer than 100 miles

cM

■shot do w n by four Soviet MİG-17S

■34 mi north-vvest of Yerevan

■the six flight crew dead, but the other 11 personnel unknovvn
di

■the e xa ct cause of why the aircraft strayed into Soviet airspace is unknovvn
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
ito
YES! on
cM

PRIVATE
PROPERIY
di

NO
TRE SPASSI NG
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
ito
WARNINGS
warned 10 times/5 minutes
on
via “Emergency Guard" channels which
can be heard by any civil or military
cM
aircraft

as verbally agreed by RF delegation

that was hosted on 15th October 2015
di

"to change their heading south

or

immediately" so as not to violate the

Turkish national airspace
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
ito
VERIFIED
on
• US aircraft and battleships heard

• the spokesman of the “OIR" verified

cM

• a Dutch airliner pilot flying över area

vvitnessed vvarnings while there was no
di

response and had visual contact with

Turkish fighters
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
ito
HOSTILEINTENT
on
the intruding aircrafts were warned
appropriately in order to prevent air
M
space violation and possible hostile act

no response raised the perception and

c

belief that they have hostile intent

di
or
.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
 om
r.c
ito
sovereignty: not only rights - but also legal obligations
on
cM

• Corfu Channel Case

• Albania mined the Corfu Channel in its ter.vvaters

di

• İn time of peace - vvithout vvarning others

or

• October 22,1946, 2 British destroyers damaged

.N
w
w
w
 o m
r.c
DUTY TO WARN

ito
The ICJ - Albania "under a duty to warn" of the
presence of the mines on
"... every State's obligation not to knovvingly allow its
cM
territory to be used for acts contrary to the rights of
other States.”
di

States are under an obligation, particularly in

peacetime, if they are going to use hostile force, they
or

must first give warning

.N
w
w
w
w
w
w
.N
or
di
cM
on
ito
r.c
om
 om
VIDLATIİNS of IF - WARNINGS

r.c
viOLvnoNS

ito
• O ctober 3, 2015 - RF SU-30
• O ctober 4, 2015 - RF SU-24
• O ctober 29, 2015 - RF helicopter on
MEETINGS
• Am bassador o f RF - M FA
• Defence Attache of RF - TG S
• Vice undersecretary of RF A m b assador - TGS
M
• D eputy C hief of RF A ir and Space Forces - TG S
c

ISSL'ES ADDIIESSEI)
di

• violations by RF
or

• RF authorities duly notified about our R oEs

• recurrently w arned that RoEs set to use fo rce against ali

.N

unidentified aircraft violating Turkish airspace approaching from

Syria

• reguest not to com e closer to Turkish borders m ore than 5 NMs

w
w
w
 o m
r .c
ito
on
VIOLATIONS
October 3, 2015 - RF SU-30
cM

October 4, 2015 - RF SU-24

October 29, 2015 - RF helicopter

MEETINGS
di

• Ambassador of RF - MFA
• Defence Attache of RF - TGS
or

• Vice urıdersecretary of RF Ambassador - TGS

• Deputy Chief of RF Air and Space Forces - TGS
.N

ISSUES ADDRESSEI)
w
w
w
 om
J

• Deputy Chief of RF Air and Space Forces - TGS

r.c
ISSUES ADDRESSED

ito
• violations by RF
on
• RF authorities duly notified about our RoEs

• recurrently vvarned that RoEs set to use force against ali

cM

unidentified aircraft violating Turkish airspace approaching from

Syria

• request not to come closer to Turkish borders more than 5 NMs

di

• to listen VHF Guard Freguency (emergency)

or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
ito
RF RESPONSES
on
the precision and accuracy of their regional
maps - increased in m.
cM
the air crew notified about the issues
negotiated

the emergency calls tovvards RF aircraft

di

expected through VHF Guard channel.

or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
■ lK E y n « N !!S M T ı>

ito
l'M D K N T IF IK I)
Mil X i:lll. în llıcsday. No'vınbor :■ ». 2»i'. 1.2;

"]
on
cM
di
or
.N
w
w
w
 om
r.c
Q uestions?

ito
on
THE LEGAL ISSUES ON THE
SIIOOT-DOYVN OF THE
cM

RUSSIAN MILITARY AİRCRAFT

on 24U1 of Novembcr 2015
di
or

By Erkan AĞIN
Major/JAG
.N

Turkish General Slaff

w
w
w