President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan explained the armed attack on Russia's Ankara Ambassador Andrey Karlov.

Stating that he had a meeting [phone] with Putin in the evening during the attack, Erdoğan stated that they agreed that the consultation for the next process, especially in the international terror struggle, should be much stronger and different.

Erdoğan said, "We know that this is a provocation to deteriorate the normalization process of the relations between Turkiye and Russia, but the Russian administration and the Turkish Republic administration are strong-willed not to come to this provocation. The attack on the Russian Embassy is a provocation for good relations between Turkiye and Russia on Syria issue."

Erdoğan stated that they had followed the case closely with the relevant people from the beginning. "I want to convey my condolences especially to all friendly Russian people in the name of Putin, President of the Russian Federation, in the name of my country and nationality in this process.

Erdoğan spoke as follows: "This attack has been carried out to the Russian Federation Ambassador is carried out to our country, especially to Turkiye, and to Turkish nation. We are convinced that this is a provocation and that there is no controversy here. And this is a clear provocation for Turkish-Russian relations. I am sure that our Russian friends see this fact."

Erdoğan said, "We will take these steps, as we agree with President Putin tonight, and we will establish a joint investigation commission. At this time, security measures have already been increased especially in Russia’s Ambassador, in all of embassies and consulates."

"At present, we are closely following the matter, in Turkiye especially Interior Ministry. We know that this is no longer a suspect, murderer Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, graduated from Söke Cumhuriyet Anatolian High School, graduated from a 2-year police vocational high school and worked for the Ankara Raid Force Branch Directorate for 2.5 years. Of course, we are well aware of the fact that those who are now trying to make something out of them. We are following them closely. We will continue to explain the explanations about them in the future."

Erdoğan said that relations with Russia are very important for themselves and for the region. "I address those who are trying to break this relationship; all of these expectants will never reach a conclusion. You are waiting in vain, you will wait in vain. We have demonstrated this agreement in a determined way this evening, we will continue with the same determination." (ILKHA)