Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow was packed with Russians paying their respects to slain ambassador Andrei Karlov on Thursday.<br /><br /> The head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill led the funeral service, before the nation’s envoy to Turkey, murdered in Ankara on Monday, was laid to rest.<br /><br /> A sombre memorial ceremony was held earlier in the day at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended.<br /><br /> Putin, who said he knew Karlov personally, posthumously gave him the Hero of Russia award – the country’s highest military medal.<br /><br /> The President paid respects to Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, killed in a terrorist attack in Ankara https://t.co/mzw5rCjGNP pic.twitter.com/SHFRtv8n5h— President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) December 22, 2016<br /><br /> Karlov was shot dead at an Ankara art exhibit on Monday by a Turkish policeman claiming revenge over Russian involvement in the war in Syria.<br /><br /> Russia and Turkey have branded his assassination a failed attempt to derail their improving diplomatic relations.<br /><br /> Yet differences are emerging over the direction of the investigation. The Kremlin has distanced itself from Turkey’s claim that followers of exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen were behind the killing.<br /><br /> Gulen has denied any involvement in the killing.<br />
