Dear T-VINE,

An open letter to His Excellency the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the United Kingdom, Dr Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko.

The Turkish community in Britain are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the assassination of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, His Excellency Mr Andrei Karlov, in Ankara.

We strongly condemn this vicious attack and offer our sincerest condolences for this tragic loss. Our hearts and prayers are with his family, colleagues and the Russian people at this most difficult time.

No justification can be made for attacks on unarmed civilians or diplomats, whose duty is to represent their country abroad.

The Turkish people share their grief with their Russian friends, as they themselves have suffered immensely from terrorist attacks, most recently from the PKK/PYD/TAK, ISIS/DAESH and FETO, and also against their own diplomats in the past by Armenian terrorist organisations ASALA and JCAG.

This is a calculated and heinous attack aimed at undermining Russo-Turkish relations and friendship.  We hope this terrible and unfortunate event will nonetheless help to strengthen cooperation between our two countries against all forms of terrorism and other security issues.

We condemn terrorism and pray for peace to prevail all over the world.

Your Excellency, please accept our deepest sympathies. May his soul rest in peace.

Yours sincerely,

 

Servet Hassan

General Coordinator, British – Turkish Solidarity Platform

(This letter was send to His Excellency the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the United Kingdom, Dr Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko on 21 December 2016)

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Photo © Anadolu Ajans of the late Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Mr Andrei Karlov