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Zakharova says those who rejoice at murder of Russian ambassador are 'lunatics'

The ministry has received thousands of messages, telegrams and phone calls from ordinary people, journalists, and state leaders with words of sympathy

Wreaths at the Russian Embassy in Ankara in memory of the murdered Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov Kirill Zharov/TASS

Wreaths at the Russian Embassy in Ankara in memory of the murdered Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov

© Kirill Zharov/TASS

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has described as lunatics those officials and public figures who have come out in support of the murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov.

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"I’ve been asked for a comment on statements by officials and public figures who have unleashed a media campaign to express support for the Russian ambassador’s murderer," she said. "I will not comment on that. Raving lunatics are not my domain."

"We have received thousands of messages, telegrams and phone calls from ordinary people, journalists, and state leaders with words of sympathy, support and strong condemnation of that terrorist attack. We thank everybody who have shared our pain," Zakharova said.

Earlier, officials in some countries posted controversial statements in social networks following the killing of Russia’s ambassador in Turkey.

Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was gunned down on December 19 as he was speaking at the opening of a photo exhibition Russia from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka through a Traveler’s Ees. The Turkish authorities identified the attacker as former police officer Mevlut Mert Altyntash. He was promptly eliminated by the local security forces. The attacker had injured three other persons. The Russian Foreign Ministry has qualified the attack as an act of terrorism.

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