Russians begin picketing Turkish embassy in Moscow

A small group of picketers assembled near the Turkish embassy in Moscow earlier today, following news that two Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian plane near the Turkish border. According to tweets outside the embassy, four young people, including pro-Kremlin glamor-activist Maria Katasonova, came out in the snow to hold banners with messages reading, "The downed pilots were destroying terrorists so our and your civilians don't die" and "Turkey, are you for or against ISIL?"

The Russian news agency Interfax reports that a police van is stationed not far from the embassy, though no arrests have been made. 

Earlier today, Putin told reporters that Turkey had no reason to shoot down the Sukhoi Su-24, saying the aircraft presented no threat to Turkey. He said Russia's jet was attacked one kilometer from the Turkish border, and crashed four kilometers away from the border. Putin also promised "serious consequences" for Russian-Turkish relations.