The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, John Kirby, expressed concern regarding 'some statements made by Turkey in connection with support, involvement, or anything else from the U.S.' following the assassination of the Russian ambassador, due to the presence of Fethullah Gülen in the United States. According to the Associated Press on December 21, Kirby's concerns relate to 'some remarks made by Turkey regarding the relationship, support, tactics, or other methods related to the indescribable murder yesterday (of the Russian ambassador in Ankara), and the fact that Mr. Gülen is here in the United States.' Kirby added, 'Before we jump to conclusions, we need to allow investigators to do their work, and it is necessary to let them reach conclusions based on evidence and facts.' According to the U.S. State Department spokesperson, 'Any theory that suggests the U.S. supported or was behind this (the murder of the Russian ambassador) in any way, or even indirectly involved, is definitely absurd.' Fethullah Gülen, a cleric and staunch critic of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has long been residing in the United States. The Turkish government considers the movement stemming from this preacher's thoughts as a 'terrorist group,' accusing Gülen of orchestrating the failed coup in July and repeatedly demanding his extradition. The U.S. government states that its judicial and legal mechanisms require undeniable and 'court-worthy' evidence for making a decision in this matter. Gülen's name resurfaced again after the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara. Hours after the murder of Andrei Karlov, Reuters quoted a senior Turkish security official stating that there are 'strong indications' of a connection between the assailant and Gülen's network. Gülen himself condemned the ambassador's murder in a statement, describing it as a 'heinous act of terrorism.' Andrei Karlov was shot from behind while attending an art gallery visit and speech on Monday evening, by a young man who was later reported to be a member of the Turkish police. The assailant shouted slogans in support of Aleppo during the attack. The United States had previously expressed its criticism and dissatisfaction regarding the 'implications' from Turkish officials about Gülen's connection to events in Turkey. Ankara has also expressed its objections and dissatisfaction with the U.S. approach and the lack of Gülen's extradition.
Kirby: Any Attribution of the Murder of the Russian Ambassador to the U.S. is Definitely Absurd
U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby dismissed Turkish claims linking the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov to the U.S. or Fethullah Gülen, who resides in the U.S. Turkey's government accuses Gülen of terrorism and demands his extradition, complicating U.S.-Turkey relations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
John Kirby dismissed Turkish claims linking the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov to the U.S. or Fethullah Gülen. The U.S. emphasized the need for evidence before drawing conclusions about the incident.
- Andrei Karlov was assassinated by a Turkish police officer during an art gallery event.
- Turkey has accused Gülen of orchestrating the assassination despite his condemnation of the act.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Fethullah Gülen is a controversial figure in Turkey, accused by the government of orchestrating a coup attempt, while the U.S. has been reluctant to extradite him without substantial evidence.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%