The Minister of Religious Affairs of Turkey called the leader of Russian Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, and expressed deep condolences with regard to horrendous incident in Ankara, where the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia in Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was shot in an act of terrorism.

Dr Mehmet Gormez said that he considered the murder of our Ambassador as a terroristic act performed by those who want to disrupt connection between the Russian and Turkish nations, between Turkey and Russia.
He expressed his outrage at the crime. Dr Gormez added that this terroristic act was aimed at undermining developing relations between Russia and Turkey and at destroying friendship and fraternity between Russian and Turkish people. “It was done by those who are against peaceful cooperation, against stability”, — he said.

The Minister expressed sincere condolences to Andrey Karlov’s family and friends.

The Minister of Religious Affairs of Turkey Dr Mehmet Gormez conveyed his condolences to all the Russians through Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin.