MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. The Kremlin welcomes Saudi Arabia’s intention to investigate the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"[President Vladimir] Putin has clarified Russia’s position, we have also heard the [Saudi] royal family’s statements condemning the murder and rejecting the royal family’s involvement. It is up to investigators to deal with all other issues, and the royal family stands for conducting an investigation," the Kremlin spokesman said, adding that "we welcome that."

Putin held a telephone conversation with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on October 25.

Khashoggi, known for his criticism of Saudi Arabia's policies, left his home country and moved to the United States in 2017. He worked for The Washington Post, analyzing the situation in Saudi Arabia and the country's foreign policy.

On October 20, Saudi authorities announced that the journalist died in a fight in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb said that 18 Saudi nationals were under investigation in this connection. The international community condemned Khashoggi’s murder and called for a transparent investigation.