Axar.az presents interview with Dr. Theodore Karasik, analyst on the Middle East and Senior Advisor at Gulf State Analytics, Washington DC on assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov:

– What do you think, how this incident will affect Turkey – Russia relations in future?

– Turkey is clearly going to need to get its house in order regarding security especially any Russian or other interests that may be targeted both physically (structure) or individually. Both countries are in the process of revamping their bilateral relations in order to coordinate on Syria and other regional issues. Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to use the event to get the Kremlin’s way on a host of issues involving Syria’s future, the Kurds, but other potential dividends from squeezing Erdogan at just the time that the Turkish president morphing the country into an Islamic Republic.

– Do you think guilty part is actually FETO organization as Turkish authorities suggest?

– So far, there is no hard evidence that FETO is behind this assassination. Although FETO may be blamed, it is very clear in the assassin’s verbal comments that this violent act against the Russian Federation and its highest diplomatic representative to Turkey is meant in revenge for Russian backed Syrian forces activity in Aleppo over the past week.

– What was the message of the assassination?

The assassination is likely tied to a meeting between Russia, Turkey and Iran to discuss Aleppo and next steps in Syria. The message from this “crowd” is that Russia is being held accountable for the slaughter of tens of thousands of innocents and that the Kremlin must be held accountable. Assassinations only tend to harden resolve in this particular case.

– Does this incident suggests that Russian and Turkish special services have to develop stronger bonds?

Turkish Special Services may be stressed because of the multitude of threats to the country as well as rising crime and terrorist/extremist activity. Russia may be able to use a refreshed relationship between the Kremlin’s security services and Ankara’s especially on internal destabilization issues. Of course, this may not happen given that Turkey is a NATO member.