ADDS STATEMENTS BY EURASIAN OFFICIALS
By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) - Leaders of Eurasian countries condemned a late Friday attack targeting a concert hall in the Moscow region that killed at least 60 people and injured more than 145.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expressed condolences to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, said a statement released by the Belarusian presidency after the shooting that Moscow described as a "terrorist attack" at the Crocus City Hall in the city of Krasnogorsk.
"In this hour of sorrow, I wish courage and perseverance to the families and friends of the victims to survive the irreparable loss, as well as a speedy recovery to all those affected," Lukashenko was quoted.
President Ilham Aliyev said in a letter addressed to Putin that Azerbaijan was "deeply shocked" by news of the attack and he "strongly condemned this act of terrorism."
Elsewhere, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said his country condemned the shooting and blast and urged UN member states to reject violence against innocent citizens.
A statement by the Kazakh presidential press service, Akorda, said Tokayev instructed law enforcement agencies to assist Russian law enforcement agencies if necessary.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also conveyed condolences to Putin and said Tashkent condemned "this terrorist act against civilians."
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov condemned the shooting in a statement by his office on Facebook, declaring his country's support for "efforts aimed at effectively combating this evil, and stand for uniting the efforts of the world community in the fight against international terrorism."
Moldova's Embassy in Moscow likewise condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the relatives and loved ones of those killed and injured, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed that Yerevan strongly condemned the shooting in a telegram to Putin, which was published by his office.
Meanwhile, Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) chief Imamgali Tasmagambetov said the group strongly condemned the "cruel, unjustifiable crime," expressing his condolences to the victims, according to a statement by the Russia-led alliance on Telegram.
An explosion was reported after the attack that caused a large fire that was later localized at the venue.
The Emergency Ministry said about one-third of the building was engulfed in flames, with several helicopters working to extinguish the blaze.
The fate of the attackers remains unknown, with some reports claiming they managed to flee the scene.
Russia's Investigative Committee announced it launched an investigation into the "terrorist attack," while Moscow's special envoy for Ukraine said Russia will request a meeting of the UN Security Council.
US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said, "There's no indication" that Ukraine was involved in the "terrible" attack.
In response, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman questioned the basis for Washington's conclusions and said if the US "has or had reliable information in this regard, then it must be immediately transferred to the Russian side."
Ukrainian authorities denied any involvement in the shooting, with the Foreign Ministry claiming the attack was a "planned provocation" to "fuel anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Russian society" and discredit Kyiv internationally.