Russia Backs Proper Probe Into Khashoggi Murder By Saudi Authorities - Foreign Ministry

Moscow has no reasons to doubt the ability of Saudi authorities to conduct a proper investigation of the murder of opposition journalist Jamal Khashoggi and warns against politicizing this tragedy, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Friday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) Moscow has no reasons to doubt the ability of Saudi authorities to conduct a proper investigation of the murder of opposition journalist Jamal Khashoggi and warns against politicizing this tragedy, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Friday.

The Saudi Prosecutor General's Office announced on Thursday the completion of the investigation of Khashoggi's murder saying that 21 people had been detained in connection with the case, with 11 of them charged. Prosecutors are demanding the death penalty for five of the defenders.

"Moscow notes the course taken from the beginning by the Saudi side to conduct the most thorough and objective investigation of the incident, including the interaction with the Turkish authorities," the source said.

"For our part, we see no reason to question the ability of the Saudi authorities to deal with this high-profile case at the proper professional level," the Foreign Ministry official added.

"At the same time, we are absolutely convinced that the politicization of such issues is inadmissible, as they need to be resolved exclusively within the legal framework," he stressed.