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The New York Times is reporting:
Russia's ambassador to Turkey was assassinated at an Ankara art exhibit on Monday evening by a lone Turkish gunman shouting "God is great!" and "don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" in what Russia called a terrorist attack.
The gunman, who was described by Ankara's mayor as a policeman, also wounded at least three others in the assault, which was captured on Turkish video. Turkish officials said he was killed by other officers in a shootout.
"The attack comes at a bad time: Moscow and Ankara have only recently restored diplomatic ties after Turkey downed a Russian aircraft in November 2015," the Stratfor think-tank said.
"Though the attack will strain relations between the two countries, it is not likely to rupture them altogether."
[...] Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Monday December 19 2016, @11:39PM
The National Police was supposedly heavily infiltrated by the Gulen Movement. It's been used as a reason for dismissing/arresting many after the abortive coup attempt.
I suspect that if he didn't have any ties to the Gulen movement, ties will very quickly be fabrica... I mean discovered linking him to it.
It's just so much more convenient for the current Turkish government narrative. And probably easier for the Russians to handle as well.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Monday December 19 2016, @11:49PM
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by art guerrilla on Tuesday December 20 2016, @12:00AM
mayhaps this is obama's foolish threat come to life in 'retaliation' for non-existent russkie election 'hacking'...
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 20 2016, @12:13AM
Yeah, you're completely naive. The hackers barely hid their Russian affiliation. The hacking and release of documents was done to favor Donald Trump.
Even if you don't care about the results, you shouldn't lie to yourself about what happened.
(Score: 1) by Arik on Tuesday December 20 2016, @01:02AM
C'mon all you have to do is read their press release with your bs detector turned on to know that's nonsense.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday December 20 2016, @01:42AM
Wait, your font failed.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 20 2016, @01:49AM
> I really doubt the Russians are going to buy it.
They don't have to. They know it was in response to their bombing of Aleppo. They aren't going to blame Erdogan because blowback from that was inevitable. Putin is a callous, paranoid asshole, but he understands simple cause and effect like that. So the question is what does have to lose by going along with Erdogan spinning it as a gulenist plot and the answer is nothing. But if he does indulge Erdogan now he's got a buddy who owes him. A buddy with a country in a very strategic location, right on the black sea.
This assassination will be the best thing to happen to Erdogan in recent times and its going to be pretty damn good for Russia too. If Putin's really lucky it will help Turkey to leave NATO. Which, given the illiberal direction Edrogan has been taking the country was going to be a problem for NATO anyway. He's already recalled half of the officers assigned to NATO [wsj.com] under the pretense of them being gulenists.