Andrey Karlov was born in 1954. He graduated from MGIMO, and after - Diplomatic Academy USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 1976, he worked in the DPRK embassies and South Korea. From 2001 to 2006, Karlov was Russian Ambassador to the DPRK. In July 2013, he was appointed Russian Ambassador to Turkey.
Assailant
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov flew to Turkey.
In turn, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that Vladimir Putin was informed about the incident. “The President was informed of an attack on the Russian Ambassador to Turkey. The information is being verified, the president plans to hear a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and heads of intelligence services,” he emphasized.
The Republic publication, citing sources, reported that Vladimir Putin interrupted a meeting with businessmen in order to sort out the situation with the attack on the ambassador by telephone.
The murder of the Russian ambassador was condemned by the European Union, represented by the head of European diplomacy, Federica Mogherini, as well as the UN, represented by the representative of the Secretary General, Stephane Dujarric, and the US State Department, represented by the head of the press service, John Kirby.
The Russian Permanent Mission to the OSCE called the assassination attempt on the Russian Ambassador to Turkey a “heinous terrorist attack.”
The Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case into an attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey. “In connection with the attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, a criminal case has been opened on the grounds of a crime under Article 360 of the Criminal Code of Russia (attack on a representative of a foreign state enjoying state protection),” said the official representative of the Investigative Committee, Svetlana Petrenko.
The head of the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that three people were also injured as a result of the shooting. According to him, their lives are not in danger. One of the wounded has already left the hospital.
Opinions
Toghrul Ismail
Professor, University of Economics and Technology, Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Exchange, Ankara
— The attacker opened fire from behind, shot from behind, shouting Arabic what kind of Aleppo is this? I am sure that those who are behind this wanted to kill the ambassador, precisely a figure of this magnitude. Such a demonstrative murder of the ambassador is a pure provocation, especially considering the context - Karlov was killed just before the meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran, on the eve of negotiations on Syria. Also our Minister of Defense (Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik - ed.) was supposed to fly to Moscow the other day. Now, I'm afraid, all this is in question.
Because Russia, I believe, cannot easily forgive the death of its ambassador. I'm afraid that the forces behind the murder have achieved their goal to some extent. The goal was to return the tension between our countries to the way it was recently (after the incident with the Russian fighter).
The murder is daring and, I believe, was planned for a long time. Everything happened in the center of the capital, in the most protected area, where many institutions are located, the US Embassy. This is not a momentary terrorist attack, especially since the attacker had a police ID with him. He himself was, I believe, a suicide bomber, he knew that he would be destroyed. There may be a suspension of the negotiation process on Syria. Russia will demand serious explanations for the incident.
I would like to offer my deepest condolences in connection with the death of Ambassador Karlov. Just two days ago we had a meeting with him. He was a very sensitive, professional diplomat. He promised to speak at our university, but you see how it didn’t work out. Terrible tragedy. I hope that the leadership of both countries will find the strength to overcome this situation and not slide back into crisis.
Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya
Project Director, Europe and Asia Program, International Crisis Group, Istanbul
— Since the fall, the level of terrorist threat has increased in Turkey. Authorities are warning the public to try to avoid crowds and large gatherings of people. Metal frames were installed at the metro entrances. For some time there was great fear that another terrorist attack might occur in some large shopping center. Therefore, when entering shopping centers Scanning tapes are installed, like at airports: they inspect bags, documents, and selectively search them. Although if you enter the territory of a shopping center by car, the search is carried out superficially, documents are not checked, and theoretically you can bring in anything.
On the streets and in public places you can see a fairly large number of people “in plainclothes” - these are police officers who are monitoring what is happening. But this is, rather, not an anti-terrorism measure, but is connected with the general situation in the country, where people are still fired from work, and protest, anti-government activity is high.
This Saturday, Turkish authorities announced a warning about possible terrorist attacks in several areas of Istanbul, and special police units were sent there to patrol the streets.
Turkey is shocked by what happened. No one can understand why, given the situation in the country, against the background of the events in Syria, the Russian ambassador moved without security and increased precautions.
Last week, a rally against the bombings in Syria was held at the Russian consulate in Istanbul, after which security at the consulate was slightly strengthened.
I was able to talk to some Turkish businessmen after the tragedy. Everyone has a very good opinion of Andrei Karlov, speaking of him as a friendly, decent person, a professional in his field.
Osman Pashayev
journalist
— When I read the news, I immediately remembered an interview with a professor at an American institute from Utah, of Turkish origin. His name was Khakan Yavuz. He analyzed the coup attempt in Turkey, talked about Erdogan and his opponent Gülen, and warned about one thing that could be coming next in Turkey. After these huge purges in the special services, in the army and police, a huge number of people have appeared who have nothing to lose and who are very good at preparing special operations. They own weapons, and, no less important, have access to them. This professor warned that anything is possible in Turkey now. Including assassination attempts on high-ranking officials and terrorist attacks of any level.
According to one version, it could be the Americans (CIA), which wants to thwart the plans of Russia, Turkey and Iran to divide Syria at tomorrow's negotiations in Moscow. Another version is that Russia itself could send such people to carry out hybrid assassination attempts on its ambassadors in order to strengthen its position in these negotiations. This, of course, is the most cynical version, but it can also happen.
Unofficially, the subject of discussion at tomorrow's negotiations on Syria will be Turkey's refusal to intervene in Aleppo. In exchange for Turkey being given complete freedom of action regarding the Syrian Kurds. Therefore, I will not make predictions right now. We need to look at tomorrow's negotiations, will they take place? In addition, it will be necessary to keep an eye on Syria. What will these negotiations lead to?
Amur Gadzhiev
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Near and Middle East
“Firstly, this dirty murder happened right on the eve of trilateral negotiations in Moscow on Syria between representatives of the military and diplomatic departments of Russia, Turkey and Iran. Some players were left behind - in a reformatted Syria, someone simply will not get a place. The USA immediately comes to mind; the West doesn’t like it either. Now we are witnessing a rapid Russian-Turkish rapprochement on the one hand and the establishment of Turkish-Iranian contact with Russian mediation. This gives Russia the opportunity to increase its influence within the region.
Yes, it became known - a Turk, perhaps a representative security forces. But now in Turkey there is an active purge in the security and government agencies after the coup attempt, which was stopped, in July of this year. Purges are taking place against supporters of the Hizmet movement, which is actually led from Pennsylvania by the theologian Fethullah Gulen, and is backed by Western intelligence agencies. The purveyors of Western interests are being purged. Since the Cold War, the US and NATO have promoted their supporters in the region. To say that this young guy was taking revenge for someone is too primitive. The ambassador is precisely the person making diplomatic, peace efforts. Instead of revenge, I see here the hand of the West, which does not want to allow a rapprochement in the level of strategic partnership. I think the negotiations will still take place. It became known that the Turkish Foreign Minister has already flown to Moscow. Those who planned to disrupt the negotiations will not achieve their goal. The parties understand that this is not an easy path, they were ready for sacrifices, including such
On Monday, December 19, the exhibition “Russia through the eyes of a traveler: from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka” was supposed to open at the Center for Contemporary Art in Ankara. Organized and sponsored by its embassy Russian Federation, and it is not surprising that the first word was given to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Turkey, Andrei Gennadievich Karlov.
The ambassador walked up to the music stand and began to speak. Less than a minute later, a young man standing behind him in a jacket and tie grabbed a pistol from his pocket and shouted “Allahu Akbar!” shot the diplomat in the back. When the wounded Karlov sank to the floor and rolled over onto his back, the terrorist shot him again. Witnesses to the tragedy rushed out of the hall in panic, and the killer fired at the ceiling and, apparently, at the fleeing people - as Turkish doctors reported, there were wounded among the visitors. In total, eyewitnesses counted eight shots.
When Turkish special forces finally arrived and eliminated the attacker in a firefight, it was all over for Karlov. By that time, he had been lying on the floor bleeding for 25 minutes.
"Remember Aleppo"
The killer is 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas. According to the latest reports in the Turkish press, he graduated from the police college in Izmir and served in the Ankara police special forces department. I entered the exhibition simply by presenting my police ID to security. Moreover: by virtue of his position, he could well have been among those who regularly guarded this event. However, according to Turkish media, he was fired from the police after the July coup on suspicion of connections with the conspirators.
The motives are also clear. In addition to the standard “Allahu Akbar,” the terrorist shouted: “Remember Aleppo, remember Syria. We won't leave you alone. Only death will stop me. We are dying near Aleppo, you will die here."
For obvious reasons, it will not be possible to learn more from him. All hope lies in the efficiency, professionalism and impartiality of Turkish investigators and intelligence services, as well as on the fact that they will really look for those who put the gun in Altintas’ hand and will not attribute everything to the machinations of the omnipresent Gülen.
There is no and cannot be an excuse
World leaders and officials unanimously condemned the crime and expressed condolences to the family of the victim.
“There can be no justification for an attack on a diplomat or an ambassador... We hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” said Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the UN Secretary General.
“We have seen reports of an attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov. "We condemn this act of violence, no matter who its source, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Ambassador and his family," White House spokesman John Kirby said.
Photo: Depo Photos / Zumapress / Globallookpress.com
“I expressed EU condolences to Russian Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov in connection with the unthinkable murder of Ambassador Karlov,” EU diplomacy chief Federica Mogherini. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: “I condemn the murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey. My condolences to his family and the Russian people. There is no justification for such a heinous act."
Everyone is ready to help - US Secretary of State John Kerry has already offered assistance to Moscow and Ankara in investigating what happened. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and promised to do everything possible to find those who were behind the killer.
Moscow is determined: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already stated that it considers what happened as a terrorist attack, and, obviously, the echo from the shots at the Center for Contemporary Art will sound more than once in the corridors of the UN.
They overlooked
There is only one obvious culprit (besides the killer and his accomplices) of the tragedy - the Turkish security forces: the police and intelligence services. It was they who had to organize the protection of a person with a special status. It is the host country that bears increased responsibility for ensuring the security of the ambassador representing his country.
Relevant issues are regulated by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, adopted by the UN on December 14, 1973.
The responsibility of the host country, however, is not spelled out in the text - there is an obligation to investigate the crime and fairly punish the perpetrators, and other countries undertake to provide all necessary assistance. The assassination of an ambassador can, albeit with difficulty, be interpreted as a casus belli if the receiving party is accused of deliberately failing to fulfill its duty to protect the diplomat. But this is clearly not the case here.
Fourth
Andrei Gennadievich Karlov became the fourth plenipotentiary representative of Russia to be killed in his post.
The first - Alexander Griboyedov, diplomat and poet, author of the famous "Woe from Wit" - was torn to pieces when a crowd, incited by fanatics, stormed the diplomatic mission building in Tehran. This murder could have led to the most serious consequences right up to the war, but neither St. Petersburg nor Tehran needed a full-fledged armed conflict then (just as neither Moscow nor Ankara needs it now). The Shah of Persia then got away with the famous diamond weighing 88.7 carats, presented to the Russian emperor as compensation.
The second is the plenipotentiary representative of the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR in Italy, Vatslav Vorovsky. In August 1923, he arrived at a conference in Lausanne. When he was having dinner in a hotel restaurant with his assistant and a special correspondent for the ROSTA agency, a young man - Russian emigrant and Swiss citizen Maurice Conradi - approached their table and shot him in the back of the head. Two more bullets hit correspondent Ivan Arens, who was saved by the ambassador’s assistant, 19-year-old Maxim Divilkovsky, who was also wounded in the side. Conradi was later acquitted by a jury.
The third is Peter Voikov, plenipotentiary representative in Warsaw. In June 1927, editor Boris Koverda shot him at the train station in Warsaw. As it turned out later, this was a planned act - Koverda was helped by the editor of the newspaper Pavlyukevich and the white captain Yakovlev. The court sentenced the killer to lifelong hard labor, but after 10 years he was released under an amnesty.
And finally, Karlov, the last one on this list.
Killed on duty
Everyone who knew Karlov spoke of him with respect, characterizing him as an excellent specialist. He was a Korean scholar and career diplomat. From 2001 to 2006 - Russian Ambassador to the DPRK, from 2009 to 2013 - Director of the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Since July 12, 2013, he worked as the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, and saw the flourishing of bilateral relations, their decline, and a new warming. His merit as an ambassador in normalizing the dialogue between Moscow and Ankara is enormous.
By an evil irony of fate, Putin learned about the death of Ambassador Karlov at the moment when he was going to watch “Woe from Wit” - a comedy written by the tragically deceased Ambassador Griboyedov. Instead of a performance, the president eventually gathered the heads of the Foreign Ministry, the FSB and the Foreign Intelligence Service.
“Tragic news came from Turkey, where Russian Ambassador Andrei Gennadievich Karlov was vilely killed,” said the Russian leader. - I ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to present him posthumously for a state award and make a proposal to perpetuate his memory. He passed away at a combat post.”
A diplomat is a dangerous profession. When a person represents a country, all the honors that people want to give to the country go to him. But in the same way, hatred of his homeland is projected onto the diplomat. Sometimes it takes the form of a bullet. Andrei Karlov fulfilled his duty to the end and died at his post - like the three before him.
In Ankara, during the opening of a photo exhibition, he was shot several times by a 22-year-old terrorist. Karlov was 62 years old. He gave 40 of them to the diplomatic service, reports MIR 24 correspondent Artem Vasnev.
At Moscow school No. 648 today there are unusual lessons - memory lessons. The students are restrained, the teachers are excited.
“Andrey Gennadievich Karlov is a graduate of our school. And we remember this and proudly bear the name of this great man,” emphasized Evgeniy Mitin, deputy director for quality of education, teacher of Russian language and literature.
On December 19, 2016, there was no one to cover him. Andrei Karlov had no security. The diplomat died while on duty at the opening of an exhibition in Ankara. The terrorist fanatic shot him in the back.
22-year-old Mevlüt Mert Altintas entered the exhibition using a police ID. The killer was previously a special forces soldier. But he was fired from the authorities. The terrorist was eventually eliminated. Andrei Karlov could not be saved. Eight bullets reached their target. It was a cynical blow.
“Russian Ambassador Andrei Gennadievich Karlov was despicably killed,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said then.
The very next day after the tragedy, by presidential decree, Andrei Karlov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia. The funeral service for the deceased ambassador was performed by the patriarch.
The country's top leadership came to say goodbye to the ambassador. A year later, Andrei Karlov’s widow, Marina Mikhailovna, says thanks to everyone who helped her survive this difficult year.
“I am very grateful to my relatives, my friends and all caring people for supporting me during this difficult year,” noted Marina Karlova.
Relatives, friends and colleagues came to the evening of remembrance. The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, recalls how last year’s meeting with journalists, at which the New Year’s atmosphere reigned, suddenly turned into a real shock.
“We continue to live these fractions of seconds, fractions of minutes, the first moments, with the hope that they will call us and say that all this is not true, but unfortunately, the calls are of a different kind, the information is confirmed in the most terrible sense,” Zakharova said.
The last speaker was the widow of Andrei Karlov. She held on bravely while the others spoke, but eventually burst into tears.
“If the terrorist had known him personally, he would never have shot at him, because such people cannot be killed,” said Marina Karlova.
Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was killed in Ankara. The death of the diplomat was confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which called the incident a terrorist attack. Karlov was shot on the evening of December 19 at the opening of a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital. This was caught on television cameras. Channel One will show the video, except for the very moment when the fatal shot rang out, so as not to force Andrei Karlov’s family and friends to relive this moment.
On December 19, an exhibition entitled “Russia through the eyes of the Turks” was opened at the Gallery of Modern Art in Ankara. Ambassador Andrei Karlov, who had arrived at the ceremony, was finishing his welcoming speech when a man in a black suit and white shirt burst into the room. He had a pistol in his hand. Shots rang out. The attacker shot the diplomat in the back, almost point-blank. The terrorist fires at least nine bullets, and when Karlov falls, he walks around him for a long time, shouting “Allahu Akbar!” and “Get out of here!”
After 51 seconds the recording is interrupted. Further information comes from different sources and varying degrees of reliability. It is impossible to check something without delay. The Russian Foreign Ministry calls for focusing only on official information. But she is also chaotic. First, our diplomats confirm: Karlov was sent to a local hospital with a gunshot wound. Then it turns out that no, it was not possible to take him out, and they are trying to provide help right on the spot, since the shooting in the gallery continues - which immediately refutes the data of one of the Turkish TV channels that the attacker was shot dead by security forces. Then on Smolenskaya Square they again confirm that Karlov was taken to the hospital after all.
There are reports from other sources that, in addition to the ambassador, three more people were injured. Who they are is unknown, how much one can believe this, too. Meanwhile, a police cordon is being set up around the building, while security at the Russian embassy is being strengthened. It is reported that the head of the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs is coming to the scene of the emergency. The intelligence services are checking the information of one of the witnesses that the attacker entered the building by introducing himself as a police officer - he allegedly showed his ID and was let in.
“We classify the incident as a terrorist act. We are in touch with Turkish officials, from whom we have received assurances that a thorough, comprehensive investigation will be carried out and the killers will be punished. Today this issue will be raised before the members of the United Nations Security Council,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
In a matter of minutes, the attack on the Russian ambassador becomes major world news. In anticipation of news about the fate of the ambassador, news agencies quote the dry lines of the official biography: 62-year-old Andrei Karlov is a career diplomat, graduated from MGIMO and the Diplomatic Academy, served as ambassador to the DPRK, and in Moscow headed the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has headed the diplomatic mission in Ankara since July 2013.
In Ankara on December 19, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey was shot dead at a photo exhibition Andrey Karlov— right during the diplomat’s speech in connection with the opening of the exhibition. After this, the killer, waving a pistol, made a speech; Witnesses say he shouted "Get out!" and called his actions revenge for Aleppo. We will tell you what is known about the assassination attempt on the Russian diplomat.
Attention! The photo gallery contains scenes of violence. If this is unacceptable to you, we ask you to refrain from viewing the material.
Andrei Karlov was shot several times
The Russian ambassador took part in the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition in the capital of Turkey. A black-haired young man, dressed in a black suit and white shirt, pulled out a gun and began shooting at Karlov. According to preliminary data, several other people besides the diplomat were injured.
According to Turkish media, the attacker shouted “Get out!” and explained his actions as a protest against Russia’s actions in Syria. Among other things, he allegedly said: “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria” and shouted “Allahu Akbar.” The man looked like a security guard or security officer. As follows from video recordings from the scene, the killer had no intention of hiding or hiding.
Andrey Karlov died
The ambassador was wounded in the back; the gunman then apparently shot Karlov several more times. He was treated on the spot and, according to some reports, taken to the hospital. The RIA Novosti agency, citing its own sources, reported that Karlov had died; This information was later confirmed by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.
The killer next to the body of the Russian ambassador in Ankara Andrei Karlov. Ankara, December 19, 2016
Karlov, 62, has served as ambassador to Turkey since July 2013.
Among other things, he was involved in resolving a diplomatic scandal after the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian bomber on the border with Syria in November 2015. From 2001 to 2006, Karlov was Russian Ambassador to the DPRK.
Killer shot dead by police
After the attack on Karlov in the building where the exhibition was held, a special operation began to capture the criminal. A shootout ensued, during which the criminal was killed. There is little reliable information about his personality; Turkish activists spread on Twitter data that Mevlut Altintas was born in 1994 and served in the police (this fact was confirmed by the mayor of Ankara). By data Reuters, he was not on duty.
Turkish media report that the man could have been fired from law enforcement after the coup attempt in July 2016. Judging by his statements, the man could be related to the Syrian opposition, which Türkiye has supported since the beginning civil war in Syria.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called Karlov's murder a terrorist act
According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, all those involved in the assassination attempt will be punished. She promised to raise the issue of the murder at the UN Security Council and demanded that the Turkish authorities conduct a thorough investigation. The murder was reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said his press secretary Dmitry Peskov. The reaction of the head of state has not yet been reported. The murder has already been condemned by the US State Department and the UN.
Russian Ambassador to Turkey shot dead in front of television cameras
The killer behind the back of the Russian ambassador to Turkey
The 62-year-old diplomat gave a speech at the opening of a photo exhibition. The killer, 22-year-old Mevlut Altintas, entered the event under the guise of a security officer and stood behind the ambassador. While Karlov was speaking, Altyntash took out a pistol and shot him nine times in the back.
Such crimes in modern history This has never happened to Russia before: Karlov became the first Russian ambassador in almost 90 years to die as a result of an assassination attempt. And the fact that the murder was committed in front of live television cameras puts this event on a par with the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the September 11 attacks - both the moment of the murder and the speech of the perpetrator, who stated that the attack was revenge for Aleppo, were captured.
Photos from the scene of the murder of Russian diplomat Andrei Karlov
“I filmed him while he was intimidating desperate prisoners.”
The story of AP photographer Burhan Ozbilici, who took the most famous photographs of the murderer Andrei Karlov
Associated Press photographer Burhan Ozbilici took the most famous photographs of the killer. After Ozbilici sent the photographs to the editor and the operation to “neutralize” the policeman was over, the reporter told how he ended up at the exhibition and what happened there.
According to the photographer, he accidentally came to the exhibition “Russia through the eyes of a traveler: from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka” - and, of course, assumed that it would be a completely routine event. Burhan Ozbilici looked there on his way home from the editorial office.
As Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov began his speech, Burhan Ozbilici came closer to photograph him. At that moment shots rang out and panic began.
The ambassador's body lay on the floor just a few meters away from me. I didn't see any blood; I think he might have been shot in the back. It took me a few seconds to realize what had happened: the man had died right in front of me; life left [him] before my eyes.
As the photographer says, at first he did not understand why the shooting started; he suggested that the shooter could be a "Chechen militant". Only later did Ozbilici realize that the killer was shouting about Syrian Aleppo, which was bombed by Russian aircraft.
Burhan Ozbilici near the AP editorial office in Ankara, 2006
Of course, I was scared and knew how dangerous it could be if he turned in my direction. But I got a little closer and filmed him while he was intimidating the desperate captives. This is how I thought: “I am here. Even if I get hurt or killed, I am a journalist. I need to do my job. I might run away without taking any photos. But in this case, I will then have nothing to answer the question of why I didn’t take the pictures.”
The AP photographer said he was surprised that the shooter was both excited and in control. As Burhan Ozbilici recalls, the killer shouted to the frightened visitors to leave. In the end, the guards ordered everyone to leave the premises, the police entered and shot the ambassador's killer.
When I returned to the office and started looking through the photographs, I was shocked that the killerstood behind the ambassadorwhile he was performing. As a friend or guard.
Updated:
Vladimir Putin at the farewell ceremony for Andrei Karlov
On December 22, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a farewell ceremony for Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, who was killed three days ago in Ankara
