(Newswire.net — December 20, 2016) — Ankara, Turkey – The Russian ambassador to Turkey was assassinated during his speech at an exhibition opening in a contemporary art gallery in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
While ambassador Andrei Karlov was addressing the attendees, a gunman approached him from behind and fired eight rounds at him. The ambassador died on the spot.
According to witnesses, the assassin yelled “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) before he pulled the trigger. Witnesses also claim he yelled: “Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!”
The President of the Russian Federation called the assassination a provocation aimed to destabilize peace attempts in Syria and undermine the Turkish – Russian relationship.
Putin said in a statement on Monday evening: “This murder is clearly a provocation aimed at undermining the improvement and normalization of Russian-Turkish relations, as well as undermining the peace process in Syria promoted by Russia, Turkey, Iran and other countries interested in settling the conflict in Syria”, Russia Today reported.
The Russian leader also said that Moscow would offer the “only response,” it should, which is an even stronger fight against terrorism.
“The killers will feel it,” he said. Putin said.
According to the Russian president, Russia’s Investigative Committee has already launched an investigation into the murder, and Russian investigators are cooperating with their Turkish counterparts.
“We have to know who organized this killing and gave orders to the assassin,” Mr. Putin said in his statement to the media.
The Russian leader said he knew Karlov personally and that the ambassador was killed performing his duty.
The Turkish president called the assassination an attempt to destabilize Turkey by undermining its ties with Russia.
“I believe this is an attack on Turkey, the Turkish state and the Turkish people, and also a clear provocation … [in terms of] Turkish-Russian relations. I am sure our Russian friends also see this fact,” Erdogan said. ”Both Turkey and Russia have the will not to be deceived by this false flag attack.”
The attacker, shot dead by the gallery security, was identified as 22 year-old Turkish riot police officer, Mevlut Mert Altintas. He used his police badge to enter the gallery armed with a gun.
The assassin’s ties with Syria are under investigation.