ISTANBUL

Tajikistan summoned the Russian ambassador to the country on Wednesday, demanding an impartial investigation into a knife attack in a Moscow region school that killed a fourth-grade Tajik student.

The Tajik Foreign Ministry issued a statement in which it "strongly condemned" the attack and claimed that it was "motivated by ethnic hatred" and expressed its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased Tajikistani minor citizen.

Russia's Ambassador in Tajikistan Semyon Grigoryev was summoned to the ministry, the statement said, adding that he was given a note demanding "an immediate, objective, and impartial investigation of this tragic incident and bringing all those involved to justice to the fullest extent permitted by law."

On Tuesday, a teenager armed with a knife attacked a school in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region, killing a child and injuring a security guard.

The investigation authority said it opened a criminal case following the incident.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova underlined that the ministry immediately offered assistance to Tajikistan’s Embassy in Moscow.

“The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its deepest condolences to the Tajik side, the relatives of the deceased, and those injured in the attack,” she said in a ministry statement.

The ministry sent an official request to the Investigative Committee to clarify all available details and provide the Tajik side with the necessary support, she said.

“In response, the Tajik diplomatic mission sent a note requesting an objective investigation into all the circumstances of this tragedy,” she said.

She outlined that the Russian side will be guided by the principle of mutual support inherent in its strategic partnership and alliance with Tajikistan.