On Wednesday, December 22, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that there is 'no doubt' that the killer of the Russian ambassador in Ankara was a member of the Fethullah Gulen network, a U.S.-based cleric critical of the Turkish government. According to Reuters, Erdogan also mentioned that initial findings indicate that the killer had foreign connections. Pro-government Turkish media also held Gulen responsible for the assassination, reporting that books from organizations close to the cleric were found in the home of the assailant, Mevlut Mert Altintas, a Turkish security officer. Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador in Ankara, was shot by Altintas at an art exhibition on Monday, December 19, and succumbed to his injuries. Erdogan's accusations against Gulen come at a time when the cleric condemned the assassination, calling it a 'very ugly act.' Previously, Erdogan had blamed Gulen for the failed coup attempt on July 15. Gulen has denied these accusations. Despite this denial, Ankara has repeatedly requested his extradition from the U.S., but Washington insists that the legal mechanisms require undeniable and 'court-admissible' evidence for such a decision. Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in a phone call with his U.S. counterpart John Kerry on Tuesday, identified Gulen as responsible for the assassination. Additionally, the newspaper Hurriyet reported that Altintas, a member of the Turkish anti-riot police, had served as Erdogan's bodyguard eight times since the failed coup. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, stated on Wednesday that it is 'too early to say who is behind the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara.' According to Reuters, the Turkish Foreign Minister told his American counterpart that Ankara and Moscow believe Gulen's supporters were involved in the assassination. The Kremlin spokesman emphasized the need to announce the results of the joint investigations by Russia and Turkey. Currently, a joint delegation from both countries is investigating the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that 'we must know who the masterminds of this murder are.' Meanwhile, Peskov noted that the assassination of the Russian ambassador has 'damaged Turkey's prestige.'
Erdogan Points Finger at Gulen; Russia: We Must Wait for Investigation Results
Turkish President Erdogan accused Fethullah Gulen of being behind the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara, which Gulen condemned. The incident raises tensions between Turkey and the U.S. regarding Gulen's extradition and highlights the fragile state of Turkish-Russian relations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Turkish President Erdogan accused Fethullah Gulen of being behind the assassination of Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov, which has raised tensions between Turkey, the U.S., and Russia. The assassin, Mevlut Mert Altintas, was identified as having connections to Gulen's network.
- The assassin had previously served as Erdogan's bodyguard.
- Erdogan's accusations against Gulen come amidst ongoing tensions over Gulen's extradition from the U.S.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Erdogan has long accused Gulen of orchestrating a coup and other acts of dissent against his government, leading to a significant crackdown on Gulen's followers in Turkey.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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