Russian Foreign Ministry: Assassination of our ambassador to Turkey was cruel and inhumane
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has called the assassination of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, cruel and inhumane, TASS reported.
"Right now, we are receiving words of encouragement as well as repulsion against this cruel and inhumane killing from officials as well as from rank-and-file citizens from all over the world," Zakharova said.
"Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey has just called [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov, expressing his deepest condolences on behalf of all Belarusian people," she added.
Karlov was shot at point blank range while speaking at an art gallery in Ankara. He was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Ankara's Mayor Melih Gokcek said the assailant was an off-duty police officer who worked in the Turkish capital. "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria," the attacker reportedly said after shooting the Russian diplomat.
"Whoever took part in this cruelty will pay the price, one by one ... Only death will take me from here," the man said.
Karlov was a career diplomat who had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.