Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the ceremony unveiling a memorial plaque to Hero of the Russian Federation, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Andrey Karlov, Moscow, December 19, 2017

Ms Maria Karlova,

Ms Marina Karlova,

Mr Karlov,

Mr Plotnikov,

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov, the Moscow City Hall and personally Mayor Sergey Sobyanin for making this fine portrait of our friend and for promptly resolving all organisational and technical issues.

Ambassador Andrey Karlov was a comrade, a close friend and one of our top diplomats. We were in Turkey shortly before he died. Andrey met with our President and was highly praised for his selfless work, topmost professionalism and the ability to put service to the Motherland above everything else. At the same time, he was always very compassionate, outgoing, kind-hearted and friendly, and always there to lend a helping hand. It is no coincidence that Andrey Karlov was a mentor for many diplomats who remember him warmly every day. He got them off to a good start in their professional careers.

Andrey Karlov deserves great credit for his work on all the fronts, be it the DPRK, where he made a significant contribution to putting our relations on the right track (unfortunately, recently they have veered off it); the Consular Department, the effectiveness of which he significantly improved, and in recent years in Turkey, where Andrey Karlov made a major contribution to improving our relations with this most important Russia’s neighbour.

Andrey died performing his official duty. We will keep our memories of him alive. Today's ceremony is another step in perpetuating his name. A street in Ankara and a street in Moscow were named after him. His name was given to School No. 648 where he studied, as well as a school at the Russian Embassy in the Republic of Turkey. A portrait sculpture of Andrey Karlov will be unveiled on the grounds of our Embassy in Ankara today, on the first anniversary of his death.

I want to thank our Council of Veterans, and the Council of Young Diplomats, who are sincerely, with all their heart, helping Andrey Karlov’s family. We will always stay by your side.