Putin: US has ‘certain responsibility’ for missing Saudi journalist

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the United States has a certain level of responsibility for the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 

“As far as I know the journalist who went missing used to live in the U.S.A. He did not live in Russia,” Putin said in his first public comments regarding the matter, according to The Financial Times.

{mosads}”In this regard the US has a certain responsibility … what else can I say here? If someone knows what happens and there was a murder, I hope some evidence is provided.”

Putin added that Moscow’s response to Riyadh would depend on what evidence is provided regarding Khashoggi’s disappearance. 

He also wondered why Russia was leveled with international sanctions after its alleged use of chemical weapons, but that Saudi Arabia hasn’t faced similar consequences. 

“From time to time, there are certain steps taken, even sanctions, for imaginary reasons without any proof regarding our alleged use of chemical weapons,” he said, according to FT. “They are saying a murder took place in Istanbul but no such steps have been taken. … We have to set some certain procedures, equal approaches to those kind of events.”

His comments come as Saudi Arabia faces growing scrutiny surrounding the disappearance of Khashoggi, who was last seen on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to collect marriage-related papers. 

Turkish officials have accused Saudi operatives of killing him and dismembering his body after he entered the consulate.

A high-level Turkish official told The Associated Press this week that the Turkish police have “certain evidence” that the journalist, who was a U.S. resident and outspoken critic of the Saudi government, was killed.

President Trump said earlier this week that the U.S. has requested audio and video recordings from Turkey related to Khashoggi’s disappearance. 

Saudi Arabia has continued to deny involvement, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that the U.S. would allow the country to conduct its own investigation into the matter.