Georgian top officials condemn Istanbul terrorist attack
By Messenger Staff
Thursday, January 14
The President and Prime Minister of Georgia strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in the heart of Istanbul, Turkey, which claimed 10 lives and left more than 15 people injured, and offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
"I strongly condemn the terrorist attack in the center of Istanbul, in a tourist district, which has claimed innocent lives.
“Through intensive cooperation with the international community, Georgia will continue its efforts to fight against the modern world's greatest threat. I express my condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims," reads the statement of President Giorgi Margvelashvili.
The same sentiment has been shared by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
“I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. Terrorism remains the greatest threat to the international community and peaceful development of our countries.
“It is a brutal crime. I condemn any form and expression of terrorism and violence and I hope that together we will stop this evil,” said Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
It has been reported that major victims of the blast were German tourists.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (MFA) stated on the day of the blast, on January 12, that no Georgian victims have been reported after the deadly blast.
The Georgian MFA said that Georgians could obtain information in connection of the fatal fact through phoning the Georgia’s General Consulate in Istanbul: + 90 54 18 18 44 00.
According to the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "a suicide bomber with links to Syria carried out the attack in the Sultanahmet district.”
The explosion took place near the Istanbul city’s Blue Mosque.
Condemning the attack, President Erdogan said Turkey was the "top target for all terrorist groups in the region" and his country was "fighting against all of them equally", the BBC reported.
Two explosions in the capital city of Ankara in October last year killed more than 100 people and more than 30 people were killed in an attack near the border with Syria in July the same year.
