Slain Russian envoy commemorated in Turkey

By Zuhal Demirci

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Tuesday commemorated the first anniversary of the assassination of former Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov.

Karlov died after being shot multiple times at an art exhibition in Ankara on Dec. 19. He was delivering a speech when the assailant, 22-year-old Turkish policeman Mevlut Mert Altintas, opened fire.

Alexei Yerkhov, Russian envoy to Turkey, Umit Yardim, deputy undersecretary of Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Saudi ambassador in Ankara Walid bin Abdul Karim el-Khreiji attended the commemoration ceremony held at the Russian embassy building in Ankara.

Scores of diplomatic mission representatives were also among the participants.

Yerkhov said Russian parliamentarians and deputies from the country’s State Duma -- the lower house of parliament --were in Turkey to discuss counterterrorism issues.

Ahmet Berat Conkar, the co-chair of Turkey-Russia Social Forum, remembered Karlov as a successful envoy.

“This [death of Karlov] is a mutual loss and a loss for everybody,” Conkar said, adding: “The investigation of this malicious assassination continues with utmost care and with the participation of Russian partners.”

As part of the investigation into the assassination of Karlov, five people were arrested, including three police officers and Guru Media Broadcast Group Chairman Hayreddin Aydinbas.

Turkish-Russian relations were tested after Karlov's assassination. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the shooting as a "provocation" designed to undermine bilateral ties.

Putin last December signed an executive order awarding Karlov the title of the Hero of the Russian Federation.