Kremlin: Murder aims to hurt normalization with Turkey

By Ruslan Rehimov

MOSCOW (AA) - The assassination of Moscow’s ambassador in Ankara aimed at hindering the normalization process with Turkey, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

"Murdering Karlov aims to prevent both the normalization process between the two countries and the reinforcement of Russia and Turkey's efforts to reach a political solution in Syria," Peskov said.

Andrey Karlov was shot dead at an art exhibition in Ankara Monday evening.

Peskov confirmed that a Russian investigation team had arrived in the capital Ankara.

The team, comprising of a prosecutor and two defense attaches, will investigate the assassination along with Turkish officials.

"Russian experts are now in Ankara [...] Let's be patient and wait for experts to complete their investigation," added Peskov.

He said it was "reasonable" for Russia and Turkey to work "effectively" against the perpetrators of the attack.

Meanwhile, during a news conference, the chairwoman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, described the assassination as a "planned provocation" against the normalization of relations between Turkey and Russia.

*Diyar Guldogan in Ankara contributed to this report.