State ceremony held for slain Russian Ambassador

An official state ceremony for Andrei Karlov was held at Ankara's Esenboğa Airport, following the completion of his autopsy with the participation of Russian and Turkish authorities in accordance with the “Minnesota Protocol.”

Deputy Prime Minister Tuğrul Türkeş, Minister of Internal affairs Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ were present in the ceremony together with Andrei Karlov's wife, Marina Karlova.

Tuğrul Türkeş said in his eulogy at the commemoration that Andrei Karlov will always be remembered for his contributions to Russian-Turkish ties in Ankara.

Andrei Karlov's family also moved to Moscow as they were accompanying his coffin.

Andrei Karlov, a veteran Russian diplomat, joined the Soviet diplomatic service in 1976. Before being assigned to the mission chief to Ankara in 2013, he had long served in both North Korea and South Korea.