Kremlin: Killing Karlov 'stab in the back' for Turkey

MOSCOW

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the assassination of Russia's envoy to Turkey was a "stab in the back" for Turkey.

"Turkish side did not want this incident to happen. That is why, this attack was a stab in the back for Turkey too," Peskov said in an interview with the Mir TV Channel.

Andrey Karlov died on Monday after being shot multiple times at an art exhibition in Ankara. He was delivering a speech when the assailant, 22-year-old policeman Mevlut Mert Altintas, opened fire.

Peskov said the timing of the incident was not a "coincidence", adding: "This was a unique case in the history of Turkish-Russian relations."

He added President Vladimir Putin condemned the attack and called it as a terror act, which aimed at normalization process between the two countries.

Peskov said the assassination was "emotionally very difficult" news for Putin.

Meanwhile, Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, issued Wednesday a statement condemning the assassination of Karlov and calling for counter-terrorism cooperation.

A funeral service for Karlov will be held at noon on Thursday in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Putin postponed his annual news conference to attend the ceremony.

Putin signed an executive order awarding Karlov the title of the Hero of the Russian Federation, Kremlin said in Wednesday's statement.

*Reporting by Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan; Writing by Diyar Guldogan