(ANSA) – ANKARA, MAR 10 – A Turkish court sentenced 5 suspects to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of the Russian ambassador in Ankara, Andrei Karlov, which occurred in the Turkish capital in December 2016
Another 7 suspects were sentenced to lesser sentences for terrorist association, while 6 defendants were acquitted
The condemned were considered, in various ways, accomplices of the murderer, the policeman Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, who was killed by the special forces in a shooting just after the murder of the diplomat at the opening of an exhibition in an art gallery
Among those sentenced to life imprisonment is Salih Yilmaz, tried as the man who gave the order to kill agent Altintas, who was not on duty at the time of the murder. Prison for life was also decided for Vehbi Kurshad Akalin, a former services officer who reportedly transmitted information about the ambassador’s transfers.
From the beginning, the Turkish authorities accused the magnate and imam Fethullah Gulen’s network of being behind the murder in order to sabotage relations with Moscow.
Just over five months ago, the group was considered by Ankara the main responsible for the failed coup attempt.
The judges established today in a section the positions of 9 defendants in default, including Gulen himself, of whom the United States always denied the extradition requested by Ankara. (ANSA)