Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 22
By Anakhanum Hidayatova – Trend:
Assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov in Ankara is a challenge for bilateral relations between Russia and Turkey on the part of those who interfere with the friendship of the two countries, Alexander Sotnichenko, associate professor at the St. Petersburg State University, a turkologist, PhD in history, told Trend.
He said that this tragedy is mainly linked to cooperation, which is being repaired between Moscow and Ankara on the Syrian issue. This alliance is absolutely unacceptable for the third forces in the region, who see the cooperation between Russia and Turkey on Aleppo as a betrayal, he noted.
The terrorist who shot Karlov was involved in one of the jihadist groups, as evidenced by his words said immediately after the assassination, according to the expert.
Sotnichenko expressed hope that this provocation will only strengthen the relations between Russia and Turkey.
“It is clear that the Turkish government has nothing to do with the tragedy, and the Turkish authorities will try to eliminate all the consequences as fast as possible,” he said.
Karlov died after receiving fatal wound in an armed assault at an art gallery exhibition opening in Ankara late Dec. 19. Three other people were injured in the attack. The killer, Turkish off-duty police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas, has been eliminated. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the incident an act of terrorism.
The expert said that in the near future a meeting will be held between the Russian and Turkish leaders in Astana, which will be devoted to the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
“We hope that this tragedy will not hamper cooperation of the sides in the resolution of the Syrian crisis,” Sotnichenko said. “Only the dialogue between Russia, Turkey and Iran, with the exception of such destructive forces as the US, the EU and Saudi Arabia will end successfully for Syria.”
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