A former Turkish police officer was arrested in connection with the 2016 assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey, state news agency Anadolu reported on Thursday.
Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot dead on December 19, 2016, at an exhibition in the Turkish capital, Ankara. The shooter, who was killed by policemen, shouted Islamist slogans and denounced Russia's involvement in the Syrian conflict. 
State media identified the former officer held Thursday as Ufuk G.
His arrest comes on the day that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a summit in South Africa.
In 2016, Erdogan said Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind Karlov's killing. Ankara also blames Gulen for a coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
Ufuk G was arrested on charges of membership of a terrorist organization, according to the report. He denied being a member of Gulen's movement. 
Eight people have been arrested over the assassination so far, Anadolu said. In April, a court in Ankara ordered the arrest of Gulen and seven alleged followers in connection with the case.