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CIS agency states ambassador’s murder will not stop strengthening of Russian-Turkish ties

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. The murder of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov will not stop the work on strengthening Russian-Turkish relations, the Russian Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation told TASS on Tuesday.

"We express deep and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Andrey Karlov who died as a result of a vile attack," the agency said. "It happened at the event aimed at strengthening peace and friendship between our peoples," it added.

"This is a tragedy and an irreparable loss. Andrey Karlov was a true patriot, talented diplomat, honest and sincere person," the agency's statement reads.

"He made a great contribution to supporting and developing relations between Russia and Turkey, was always open for dialogue, supported initiatives of our compatriots and rendered great support to the operation of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Ankara," the agency noted.

"We are confident that this crime will not stop the work on strengthening Russian-Turkish relations," the agency stressed. "Only together we can withstand threats, including terrorist threats, that our countries face," the agency concluded.

A gunman fired shots at the Russian diplomat at the opening of the photo exhibition "Russia from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka in the eyes of a traveler" in Ankara on Monday. Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Karlov died from the injuries. She said Moscow considers this as a terrorist attack.

Turkish authorities said the attacker was immediately liquidated by local security forces. Three other people were injured on the scene. A source in the Russian Embassy in Ankara told TASS that there were no Russians among those injured.