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Moscow considers bringing alleged murderer of Russia’s Su-24 pilot to responsibility

The Russian authorities are currently considering the issue of bringing militant Alparslan Celik to criminal responsibility for complicity in the murder of Russian pilot, Russian Foreign Ministry says
The funeral of Russian Air Force pilot Oleg Peshkov, a commander of the Su-24 bomber aircraft downed in Syria Alexandr Ruyimin/TASS
The funeral of Russian Air Force pilot Oleg Peshkov, a commander of the Su-24 bomber aircraft downed in Syria
© Alexandr Ruyimin/TASS

MOSCOW, April 6. /TASS/. Russia has not heard any comments from the Turkish authorities so far regarding the possible involvement of militant Alparslan Celik in the murder of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-24 bomber pilot in Syria. Moscow will assess Ankara’s actions on the basis of the relevant steps, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

"The official excuse for his arrest was illegal possession of arms. The fact that this extremist had previously publicly confessed to involvement in the Russian pilot’s murder, has not been commented in any way by the Turkish authorities. Moreover, according to media reports, Celik has denied the confession," she said. "Consideration of this fact by the Turkish law enforcement and judicial bodies during the legal proceedings against this militant who does not hide his membership in the Grey Wolves radical nationalist organization will be a criterion for our assessment of the Turkish authorities’ further steps. The Russian competent authorities are currently considering the issue of bringing Celik to criminal responsibility for complicity in the murder of Russian pilot."