Vladimir Putin and King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud - Archive photo
Putin: Relations with Saudi Arabia should not be harmed before Khashoggi's disappearance is over
Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that relations with Saudi Arabia should not be harmed before the investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey earlier this month
"How can we damage our relations with Saudi Arabia without knowing what actually happened?" Putin asked in a speech at the plenary session of the International Dialogue Forum, which opened in Sochi
The Russian president said there was no point in taking steps that would harm relations with Riyadh before the investigation was over, calling on Khashoggi to be found guilty to prove evidence so that Russia would act accordingly
The Russian president said that the disappeared journalist, to his mind, was to some extent the elite of Saudi Arabia or in some way connected with the ruling circles in the Kingdom, stressing that it is difficult to talk now what happened to Khashoggi
Putin pointed out that the complex operations are taking place within the American elite as well, and expressed the hope that things in the United States to the level of Khashoggi
The Russian president held Washington responsible for the disappearance of Khashoggi on October 2, after entering the consulate of Riyadh in Istanbul, being a resident of the United States
Putin compared the disappearance of Khashoggi and the Scrippel case and urged the international community to come up with common approaches to dealing with such issues.
Putin noted that Western countries had imposed "artificial pretexts" on Moscow for using chemical weapons in the alleged poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergey Scrippal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, Britain, March 4, without giving any evidence
"There has been no evidence of Russia's involvement in the case, but the punitive measures have been taken," he said. "Now they are talking about an assassination in Istanbul but without taking any steps"
Khashoggi's disappearance after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on February 2 has resonated widely in the world, with Saudi officials saying the US-based freelance journalist left the consulate shortly after entering
For its part, The Washington Post reported that some Turkish officials told their American counterparts that they have audio and video recordings proving the assassination of the journalist inside the consulate building, which was categorically denied by the Saudi authorities
The Turkish and Saudi sides are cooperating in the investigation, as Turkish investigators searched the Consulate building and residence of the Saudi consul in Istanbul
Source: Agencies
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