Russian President Putin Will Not Downgrade Its Ties To Saudi Arabia Over The Khashoggi Affair

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a session of the annual Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia October 18, 2018. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

Reuters: Putin says can't justify spoiling Saudi ties over Khashoggi affair

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia did not have enough information about the unexplained disappearance of a Saudi journalist to justify spoiling ties with Riyadh.

Turkey says Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed by Saudi agents in Riyadh’s diplomatic mission in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and his body cut up. Saudi Arabia denies the allegation.

Putin told a discussion forum in the Black Sea resort of Sochi that Moscow did not really know what had happened in the case, that it was a pity that the journalist had gone missing, and that Russia would wait for details.

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Update: Putin says no reason to deteriorate relations with Saudi (Financial Times)

WNU Editor: Putin says the U.S. shares some responsibility for the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi .... Putin: US has ‘certain responsibility’ for missing Saudi journalist (The Hill). And while everyone else is going to stay away, Russia is going to show up at the Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative next week .... Russians Flock to Saudi Forum as Mnuchin Joins Western Exodus (Jake Rudnitsky and Ilya Arkhipov, Bloomberg).