Investigation into the Connection Between Gulen Network and Assailant of Karlov; Gulen Condemns the Assassination of the Russian Ambassador

Hours after the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey during an attack in Ankara, Reuters reported, citing a senior security official, that there are "strong indications" of a connection between the assailant and the Gulen network. Fethullah Gulen condemned the incident in a statement. An unnamed senior security official told Reuters that current investigations are focused on the connection between the assailant and the Gulen network. Following the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara, which occurred on Monday evening during his visit to an art exhibition, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan identified the assailant as a member of the Ankara riot police who had been in the force for two and a half years. Reports indicate that at the time of the attack, this riot police officer was not on duty. The idea of a connection between the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara and the Gulen network was first raised by the mayor of Ankara shortly after the event. In this context, AFP reported that the mayor of Ankara, known for his controversial comments and speculation on Twitter, proposed the hypothesis on his Twitter page that "this police officer may be connected to Fethullah Gulen's group." However, Gulen himself referred to the incident as a "despicable act of terrorism" and condemned it. Gulen also called on the Turkish government to identify the accomplices of the assailant. Reuters notes that Gulen's statement came after his advisors rejected the allegation of "strong indications" of a connection between the assailant and the Gulen network. The Turkish government has accused Gulen, who has been in voluntary exile in the U.S. since 1999, of orchestrating the failed coup attempt last summer, and since then, thousands of police, military, and judicial personnel have been dismissed or arrested on suspicion of being part of his network. Turkish officials claim that Gulen has established a "parallel network" within the police, military, judiciary, and public service sectors in Turkey with the aim of overthrowing the government, but the exiled cleric has denied these accusations.