Source claims US not probing into Gulenists’ alleged role in Russian ambassador’s murder


Date posted: December 23, 2016

WASHINGTON, December 23. /TASS/. No investigation has been launched in the United States in connection with Turkey’s comments of the Gulen movement’s possible role in the Russian ambassador’s murder, a senior US Department of State official told TASS.

Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was gunned down on Monday night at the opening ceremony of a Russian photo exhibition. His attacker was killed on the spot.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that according to investigators, an organization linked to US-based Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, was connected with the killer. Turkey also accuses Gulen, who has lived in the US for the past ten years, of orchestrating the failed coup in the country this summer and is seeking his extradition.

No US investigation

“It was a tragedy, and it’s being jointly investigated by Russia and Turkey. That’s the only investigation into that assassination that I’m aware of. There is no investigation here in the United States into that, nor would it be appropriate to do that,” the official told TASS Thursday.

“I’ve seen President Erdogan’s comments about the potential role of influence from the Gulenist network. I can’t speak for that because we are not party to this investigation and to the information that the investigators are gleaning,” he continued.

The official has again rejected rumors that the United States could be informed about preparations for the attack.

“We have said definitively is any suggestion that the United States was in any way involved or encouraging or inciting or knowledgeable of this plan or plot to assassinate the Russian Ambassador is absolutely ludicrous and false,” he said.

The source added that there were “only one investigation into that murder, and that’s by Russia and Turkey, and I’m going to let the Russians and the Turks speak to what they are learning in that investigation.”

Turkey blames Gulen

Turkey’s President Tayyip Recep Erdogan said on Wednesday the investigators had uncovered a link between the killer of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov and FETO, an organization reporting to the exiled Islamist preacher Fethullah Gulen.

“This man [Mevlut Mert Altintas] was a member of FETO and there’s no need to cover the fact up,” Erdogan said. “The place where he grew up and his latest status are all but indicative of this.”

“It should be said openly members of that filthy organization can still be found in the ranks of our police and in the Armed Forces,” he said.

Erdogan recalled that a group of experts from Moscow was taking part in the investigative actions. “Investigators and our intelligence services are engaged in the process. I hope they will get the results shortly and we’ll make them public.”

“There are some shreds of data regarding (Altintas’s) connections abroad,” the Turkish president said.

Gulen denies any role in murder

Fethullah Gulen has denied his involvement in the assassination in a video address Thursday.

He accused Turkey’s government of defaming his movement, adding that “it is not possible for them to convince the world of such accusations.”

Gullen condemned the killing in a written statement Monday.

Source: TASS Russian News Agency , December 23, 2016


Related News

Sarıgül’s first election promise: to protect İstanbul’s historic skyline

When asked to address claims that he is supported by the Hizmet movement led by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, Sarıgül said he is at peace with all segments of society and that he would be grateful for the support of anyone who gives it.

OSCE: Excessive penalties threaten journalism in Turkey

Dunja Mijatovic, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) representative on freedom of the media, has said excessive penalties against journalists may threaten investigative journalism and freedom of speech in Turkey. Mijatovic spoke against an investigation targeting Taraf journalist Mehmet Baransu for reporting on a confidential National Security Council (MGK) document that mentioned a planned crackdown on faith-based groups in Turkey.

Erdoğan government opposes democratic values: detained Turkish journalist

The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is falsely accusing anybody that opposes it of treason, a prominent Turkish journalist currently detained in an Istanbul prison

Retired public servant under custody for distributing donations to post-coup victims

M.S. was rounded up while he was withdrawing the money allegedly transferred from Canada-based Gulen followers to his account, at a bank branch in Izmir’s Bergama district. According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the funds were raised to support post-coup prisoners and those under investigation as well as the people dismissed as part of the government crackdown and their families.

Turkish schools in US select Olympiad finalists

Many countries that are home to Turkish schools have been holding language and culture festivals this month to select the students who will compete in the 12th Turkish Olympiads in June, with one such event recently being held in the US state of Virginia.

Portrait of Fethullah Gülen: A Modern Turkish-Islamic Reformist

Bekim Agai Fethullah Gülen, founder of a worldwide Islamic education movement, regards morality and education as the engine for a contemporary Islam that is compatible with laicism. Many are on the lookout today for “reformist thought” in the Islamic world. The question here is what qualities an Islamic reformist is expected to demonstrate and what […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Fethullah Gülen’s Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Sri Lanka Explosions

Actually, the president is electing his republic

Azeri NGOs harshly criticize Zeynalov’s deportation from Turkey

Gulen factor in Turkey’s turmoil

Turkish Food Festival seeks to teach Greenville about Turkey’s culture and cuisine

Greek broadcaster praises contributions of Gülen movement

What I Saw In Turkey

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News