Cairo - On Monday, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was killed by a terrorist gunman in Ankara. Asked to comment on the shocking murder, Egyptian lawmaker Mahmoud Badr told Sputnik that unfortunately, Karlov's death can be seen as a tragic consequence of the Turkish government's past policy of offering support for terrorists in Syria. Badr, a member of Egypt's ruling 'In Support of Egypt' bloc, started off by saying that he and his fellow lawmakers offer their sincere condolences "to our brothers in Russia." "The Russian people are friends who have long supported Egypt during the most difficult periods," he stressed. At the same time, Badr, a founder of the Tamarod Movement, a social organization that played a central role in removing the Muslim Brotherhood from power in Egypt in 2013, had some harsh words for the Turkish government, which he said has failed in its duty to protect Russian and other foreign diplomatic officials. Karlov's death "clearly shows that Ankara is not in a position to ensure the protection of foreign diplomatic mission," according to Badr. Furthermore, he added, "attempted attacks on Western diplomats have become more frequent. After the failed coup attempt, the situation in the country is tense and worrying." Ultimately, Badr said, the Russian ambassador's murder was a consequence of Turkey's old policy of offering support to terrorists in the Syrian conflict. "Turkey is known for having supported terrorists during certain periods; it opened its borders to hundreds of terrorists that joined the ranks of Jabhat al-Nusra," the lawmaker explained. "There is proof that in March, militants carried mustard gas across the Turkish-Syrian border." Accordingly, Badr argued, "what happened [to the Russian ambassador] is the price Turkey pays for supporting terrorism." Alexander Kazakov, director of the Moscow-based Stolypin-Struve Center for Liberal-Conservative Policy, has a different view. Speaking to Radio Sputnik, Kazakov suggested that "if we do not indulge in conspiracy or some broad geopolitical versions [regarding Karlov's murder] of course, those with the most interest in this are the terrorist organizations and forces which continue to occupy parts of Syria." "They have a vested interest," according to Kazakov, "because the building of relations and coordination between Russia and Turkey would factually mean the end of their reign of terror in Syria." Effectively, he noted, Karlov's murder served to benefit only the terrorists, who have a "direct interest in disrupting Russian-Turkish fence-mending efforts..."
