Russia names new ambassador to Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) in Moscow, Russia on 10 March 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]

Russia today appointed Alexei Yerkhov to be Moscow’s new ambassador to Turkey, under a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.

Yerkhov, previously the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Crisis Management Centre, replaces Andrey Karlov, who was assassinated at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital Ankara on 19 December.

Karlov was delivering a speech at the opening of an art gallery when an armed assailant shot him several times.

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Putin declared the shooting a “provocation” designed to undermine bilateral ties.

“We regard this as a terrorist act,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. “Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively.”

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