The assassination of Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was not a random act of terrorism, but rather a deliberate attack. The shooting, which took place on the eve of the trilateral summit between Turkey, Russia and Iran, was aimed at causing tension prior to the summit and damaging Turkey-Russia relations. By lashing out with an attack, the FETÖ-linked gunman intended to reassert the terrorist organization as still being active in Turkey.
Associate Professor Dr. Salih Yılmaz, an academic at Yıldırım Beyazıt University, said that the assassination was an attempt by FETÖ to deliver a message of power. It is a message trying to prove that FETÖ is still active in Turkey.
“In Moscow [at the trilateral summit], important decisions were reached regarding Aleppo. The U.S. wasn't at the table. Had the assassination of the Russian ambassador achieved its goal, the summit would have been cancelled and no progress would have been made for Aleppo," said Yılmaz.
“The aim of the attack was to force Turkey to implement a similar foreign policy to Western governments. The aim of the attack was to form chaos and put the government and Erdoğan in a difficult situation, and lead people to riot," continued Yılmaz, who also added that the U.S. took a cautious and distant approach with its Syria policy until January 20.
Head of the Department of Political Sciences and International Relations at Yıldız Teknik University, Professor Dr. Nurşin Ateşoğlu Güney, described the assassination as a reflection of the overall geopolitical struggles of the region.
“Three countries reached an agreement on the Aleppo issue. The West was made uncomfortable by three eastern countries reaching an agreement. It was important to leave the West and the U.S. out of the decision making process," said Güney.
Güney pointed out that the U.S. and the EU were tightening their policies surrounding Russia. “The shooting was an attempt to isolate Russia and Turkey," she said.
The assassination was an attack on both Russia and Turkey, as it was an effort to cause tension between the countries and sabotage two of the region's key players.
