Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh

While answering reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s reaction to the killing, Binh said: ‘Vietnam strongly condemns the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Russian Government and people as well as the family of Ambassador Andrey Karlov. We believe that the criminal would be punished properly.’

Earlier on the same day, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang sent a message of condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the killing of Ambassador Andrey Karlov.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also cabled a message of condolences to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Ambassador Andrey Karlov was murdered while he was visiting the Cagdas Sanatlar Merkezi, a major art exhibition hall in the Cankaya district of Ankara on December 19.

President sends condolence to Russia over murdered ambassador

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov

President Tran Dai Quang on December 20 sent a message of condolence to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin over the killing of Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also cabled a message of condolence to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Ambassador Andrey Karlov was murdered while he was visiting the Cagdas Sanatlar Merkezi, a major art exhibition hall in the Cankaya district of Ankara on December 19.

Vietnam condemns attacks on civilians

Vietnam strongly condemns attacks on innocent civilians and sympathises with immense grief and losses suffered by families of the victims in the truck crash in Berlin and shootings in Switzerland, Foreign Ministry‘s spokesperson Le Hai Binh said. 

He made the statement on December 20 in response to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s position on the truck crash in Berlin and shootings in Switzerland.

Binh told the media that none Vietnamese has been recorded so far in the truck attack in Berlin, Germany, on the night of December 19. 

Upon learning the news, the Vietnamese embassy in Germany immediately contacted authorities and Vietnamese associations in the host country to find out about information, he said. 

According to him, the embassy has launched a round-the-clock hotline 491625391500 to acquire information and provide timely support for Vietnamese citizens in case they face danger.

At least 12 were killed and 48 others were injured in the attack in a Berlin Christmas market.

VNA