Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a new ambassador to Turkey.
“Alexander Yerkhov shall be appointed Russia’s new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Turkish Republic,” says a presidential decree published on the official legal information portal.
Until just recently Yerkhov led the Foreign Ministry’s crisis situation management center.
Russia’s previous ambassador, Andrei Karlov, was gunned down on December 19, 2016 as he opened a photo exhibition in Ankara. The terrorist fired several shots in the Russian diplomat’s back. Karlov was posthumously awarded the title of the Hero of Russia for bravery and courage displayed in the capacity of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey and for his great contribution to implementing Russia’s foreign policy.