MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has called the murder of Russian ambassador to Turkey a terror attack against the country.

"Unfortunately, I have to begin our meeting with yesterday’s tragic event - the act of terrorism committed against Russia in the person of our ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov," Shoigu said at the meeting with Turkey’s National Defense Minister Fikri Isik.

"We hope that a thorough investigation will be carried out and those guilty will be found and punished," the Russian defense minister said.

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead on Monday evening during the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition devoted to Russia in the Center for Contemporary Art in Turkey’s capital Ankara. Turkey’s authorities said three other people were wounded and the attacker was killed by local security forces. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the assassination of the ambassador was an act of terrorism.