Turkish and Italian experts will carry out a joint observation flight over Russia's territory under the Open Skies Treaty this week, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said.

According to Ryzhkov, Russia in its turn is expected to carry out an observation flight over the Norwegian territory in the same time period. This will be Russia’s 21st observation flight over foreign territory in 2016, he added.

"From July 11 to 15, as part of the international Open Skies Treaty, a joint Turkish-Italian mission will perform an observation flight over the territory of the Russian Federation in a Turkish observation aircraft CN-235,” Sergei Ryzhkov said.

The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in March 1992 and became one of the major confidence-building measures in Europe after the Cold War. It entered into force on January 1, 2002, and currently has 34 states parties, including Russia and most NATO members.