The Russian military has further escalated the rhetoric in the current stand-off between Russia and Turkey, building on President Vladimir Putin's "stab in the back" remarks last week.
The state-owned RIA Novosti news agency reports that Viktor Bondarev, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, said today that the downing of the Sukhoi Su-24 bomber on November 24 was a "treacherous" "betrayal."
Bondarev went on to say that "those who planned and carried out this betrayal will suffer just punishment."
Of course the pilot of the Su-24, Oleg Peshkov, was in fact killed after ejecting from the stricken bomber, as he was shot by rebel fighters on the ground while descending in a parachute.
Bondarev therefore appears to be insinuating Turkish coordination with the rebels in order to apportion blame for the pilot's death at the hands of those he was conducting air strikes upon.
Peshkov's body was flown home to Russia from Turkey today.
Turkish troops carry Peshkov's coffin (AP Photo/Turkish military)
Translation: #SYRIA The body of the killed commander of the Su-24M crew, Hero of the Russian Federation Oleg Peshkov, has been brought to Russia
According to RIA Novosti, Peshkov will be buried in Lipetsk.
-- Pierre Vaux