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Russian lawmaker says Ankara attack was aimed at pushing Turkey towards invasion of Syria

According to a senior Russian lawmaker, the terrorist attack in Ankara was geared to destabilize the situation in the region
The first deputy chairman of the defense and security committee of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house Frans Klintsevich Vladimir Smirnov/TASS, archive
The first deputy chairman of the defense and security committee of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house Frans Klintsevich
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS, archive

MOSCOW, March 13. /TASS/. Sunday’s terrorist attack in Ankara that claimed at least 33 lives was geared to push Turkey towards military invasion of Syria, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Sunday.

"A terrorist attack is always a grave crime, regardless of the motives of its organizers and plotters," Frans Klintsevich, the first deputy chairman of the defense and security committee of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house, told journalists.

According to Klintsevich, the terrorist attack in Ankara was geared to destabilize the situation in the region. "Turkey is literally being pushed towards a military invasion of Syria," he said.

Earlier on Sunday, Reuters said citing Turkish security officers the terrorist attack claimed at least 33 lives. According to preliminary information, a suicide bomber detonated a car near a bus stop in the vicinity of Guvenpark located next to a big transport hub.

The Russian lawmaker said Russia was grieved to learn about the blast in central Ankara and its numerous victims. "We have experienced first-hand how it feels to lose the near and dear and extend our sincere condolences to the Turkish people," he said.

"People are expecting tough response to the terrorist activities from the authorities," he noted, adding he hopes this will be an "adequate response." "Any rash step may cross out all efforts of the international community on reconciliation in Syria and I am afraid it would be impossible to start it all over again," Klintsevich stressed.

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