Russia Hopes Those Responsible For Karlov's Murder Will Face Punishment - Foreign Ministry

Russian investigators will review the results of the probe into the murder of late Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov and Moscow hopes that those involved in this crime will be identified and punished in accordance with the law, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th December, 2018) Russian investigators will review the results of the probe into the murder of late Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov and Moscow hopes that those involved in this crime will be identified and punished in accordance with the law, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

"Turkish law enforcement authorities concluded the investigation in the criminal case and sent the indictment to the court. These materials will be reviewed by Russian investigators, who are in constant contact with their Turkish counterparts ... We hope that as a result of the forthcoming trial, all those involved in this atrocity will be identified and punished according to the law," Zakharova said.

On December 19, 2016, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was delivering a speech at the opening of an art gallery in Ankara, where he was shot by an off-duty Turkish police officer, Mevlut Mert Altintas.

The attacker was killed by the police on the spot.

The trial on the assassination will start in Ankara on January 8, 2019. Turkish prosecution office has previously sent the case to the court. There are total of 28 suspects, including opposition Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The indictment says that assassination of the diplomat was organized by Gulen's organization FETO, that is also accused by Ankara in the organization of the coup in July 2016. The document notes that Karlov's assassination is a provocation aimed at damaging Russia-Turkey relations.