Man remanded in custody in Russian envoy murder case

By Serdar Acil

ANKARA

The head of a Turkish media group was remanded in custody on Friday evening in capital Ankara for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov, according to a judicial source.

A criminal court remanded Guru Media Broadcast Group Chairman Hayreddin Aydinbas on charges of "association in plotting manslaughter", the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Aydinbas gave his testimony to Adem Akinci from the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday.

Karlov was shot and killed in Ankara on Dec.19 during an art exhibition when he was delivering a speech.

Turkey-Russia relations were tested after the assassination. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tukey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared the shooting a "provocation" designed to undermine bilateral ties.