Turkey: Russian Ambassador in Ankara Seriously Wounded in Shooting Attack

There has also been a number terror attacks in Turkey recently by Kurdish militants.

The attacker’s act has been linked to the failed July coup in Turkey and the purging of police forces that were said to stand beside US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Karlov was hospitalized with a gunshot wound but didn’t comment further on his condition, The Associated Press reported, citing a statement carried by Russian news agencies.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in a video message to the nation, cast the attack as an attempt to undermine NATO-member Turkey’s relations with Russian Federation – ties long tested by the war in Syria.

Three other people were reportedly hurt.

The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. The gunman declared, in both Turkish and Arabic, that the attack was revenge for Aleppo.

“We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source“, Kirby said.

Russian Federation is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes helped Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo.

Turkey and Russian Federation have enjoyed improving relations since the fall of the Soviet Union, but have experienced tensions recently, especially over Russia’s intervention in the Syrian civil war.

Russian Federation and Turkey have been key players in Syria’s civil war that has raged for nearly six years.

Russian forces were instrumental in helping government troops recapture the city of Aleppo from rebel forces in Turkey’s neighbour Syria last week. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma, said the talks would go ahead despite the killing of the ambassador.

Andrey Karlov has been the Russian ambassador to Turkey since July 2013; the longtime diplomat has served the Kremlin in a wide variety of capacities, including ambassadorships to North Korea before serving in his current role.