Russian embassy erects monument for assassinated envoy

ANKARA

The Russian Embassy in Ankara erected a monument for former Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov, who was assassinated on Dec. 19 last year.

“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.

Karlov was shot dead with nine bullets fired by riot police officer Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş late on Dec. 19, 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.