Russian Ambassador to Turkey Assassinated In Ankara; Will Russia-Turkey Relations Get Affected?

Things looked to turn more unstable in West Asia after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was assassinated by a gunman at a photo exhibition in Ankara on Monday (December 19). Karlov, 62, was shot multiple times by the man who was standing behind him when he was in the middle of a speech in the embassy-sponsored exhibition.

The assassin was heard shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) and "Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria!" in photos and video capturing the assassination that went viral on the Internet.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, later announced the envoy's death in a live televised statement. The killer was identified as a 22-year-old off-duty police officer who was stationed in Ankara, said the mayor of Turkey's capital city, Melih Gokcek. He was later killed by the police, Turkish station NTV reported later.

The assassination took place a time when Russia and Turkey are trying to mend their relations despite differences over handling the Syrian crisis on which Moscow and Ankara have differing positions. While Russia backs the Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad, Turkey has been in favor of toppling him. In November 2015, a Russian jet was shot down by the Turkish forces on their country's border with Syria, leading toa strained relation between the two countries.

However, following the failed coup to overthrow his regime and the counter-offensive against forces that 'conspired' to do so, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan found himself at odds with the western world including the United States and tried to mend relation with Vladimir Putin instead.

But now the assassination of the Russian envoy is feared to disrupt things again. However, the two countries have vowed not to let the tragedy affect their relations. The assassination has also happened at a time when Russia and Turkey have tried to effect a ceasefire in war-ravaged Aleppo to let the stranded civilians free themselves.

Erdogan and Putin had a telephonic talk following the assassination. Share your thoughts below!