(VOVworld) - Russia's federal tourism agency on Wednesday issued a warning that the IS is planning to abduct Russian citizens in Turkey.

A tourist couple checks a map, near the Byzantine-era monument of Hagia Sophia, at Sultanahmet square in Istanbul, Turkey January 14, 2016. (Photo: Reuters)

According to security sources, IS leaders plan to seize Russian citizens in Turkey and transfer them to territories   controlled   by   IS   to   be   publicly   executed   or   used   as   human   shields against Syrian government or opposition forces.

Turkey has been Russia's number one foreign tourism destination for years but it has   become   less   attractive   following   last   year’s shooting   down   of   a   Russian military plane by Turkish jets on the Syria-Turkey border, which has provoked tensions between the two countries.