Russian Ambassador Shot

[LouiseBrooks]

The Russian Ambassador to Turkey has been shot whilst visiting an art exhibition. Not sure how bad it is but doesn't sound good.

One report suggests the attacker referred to Aleppo but that's not been verified yet.

[heartskey]

Just when relations between the two countries were beginning to thaw. Poor man.

[TheoriginalLEM]

Fuck :(

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

Just seen Reuters tweet about it

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

RIA does't mention Aleppo, the ambassador is in a serious condition, there are other casualties, the shooter has been killed.

[AyeAye]

And so it begins.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

He died.

Oh dear.

[heartskey]

He's died.

[BingBongBingBong]

He is dead. Fuck.

[Manumission]

Worrying.

[heartskey]

Putins holding emergency talks.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

He's been ambassador to North Korea for years, been to Turkey for three.

[heartskey]

This was probably a lone gunman. I don't think the Turkish government would have been involved. The gunman has been shot dead.

[Manumission]

After the recent "coup" situation heart, I'm not sure anyone can assume anything about who is behind what in Turkey.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Ria are still saying he's in hospital according to the Russian Foreign Office.
They had ticker saying he's died, but have removed it now.

[megletthesecond]

Fuck .

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

And now the Russian Foreign Office confirms he's died.

[MrTumblesbitch]

Can someone explain to me the ramifications of this? I know it's bad, but I am ashamed to admit I don't understand the wider political implications

[Manumission]

Basically, it will kick off to some degree. Putin won't take a serious loss at Muslim hands calmly.

See also Chechnya.

[Marcipex]

Oh fuck.

[MrTumblesbitch]

Thanks Manumisson - I'm off to Google a bit more!

[Manumission]

Part of the problem is that nobody knows quite what the reaction is likely to be, though.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

It will kick off in Aleppo, sadly.
Again.

[Manumission]

I still don't quite understand how the pressure on Russianto agree a ceasefire in Aleppo was successful (although I'm very glad it was).

[NotDavidTennant]

We need to get a bit of perspective here.

The Turkish state will not have sanctioned the assassination of a Russian state official. This will have been the work of an Islamic extremist, most likely linked to IS or one of the other Syrian jihadist groups.

Relations between Russia and Turkey haven't been great, but Putin and Erdogan have been making an effort to smooth things over of late. It's unlikely they will want to jeopardise that. As long as there is no hint of Turkish state complicity and Erdogan is able to make a decent show of publicly cracking down on whichever group is behind this, then my guess is that it will blow over.

Sympathies to the ambassador and his loved ones.

[EssentialHummus]

I cynically think that Russia will use this as an excuse to kick off some more.