Turkey arrests one in Russian envoy murder case

ANKARA

The head of a Turkish media group was arrested late on Nov. 24 in the capital Ankara for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov.

Guru Media Broadcast Group Chairman Hayreddin Aydınbaş was arrested on charges of manslaughter as part of an investigation carried out by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Aydınbaş on Nov. 22 was questioned by Public Prosecutor Adem Akıncı and was referred to court, which issued its ruling on Nov. 24.

Karlov was shot dead with nine bullets fired by riot police officer Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş late on Dec. 19, 2016, as he was delivering a speech for a photography exhibition at an arts center in Ankara. The assailant was also shot dead by police officers at the scene of the incident.

Also on Nov. 24, the Russian Embassy in Ankara erected a monument for Karlov.

“My husband and I have loved the Turkish people and culture. It’s very meaningful to gather here today because these kinds of tragedies should not repeat,” said Marina Karlova, the spouse of the slain ambassador, during the opening ceremony on Nov. 24.

Ambassador Şefik Vural Altay from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Karlov’s assassination had actually targeted Turkish-Russian relations, but it fell short of the goal.

The Turkish diplomat recalled that Turkey and Russia had immediately launched a joint investigation, which is still ongoing, and in effect, the two countries did not allow for the assassination’s actual purpose to be realized.

Russian Ambassador to Ankara Aleksey Yerhov also reitreated that Turkey and Russia did not allow bilateral ties to be harmed and pledged both countries would further develop relations.