KYIV. UkraineGate . 4 . October .2022 | World News .
Lawyers for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been prosecuted in the U.S. over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, told the court on Monday that the crown prince was appointed prime minister last week .
Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in an operation that U.S. intelligence believes was ordered by Prince Mohammed, the kingdom’s de facto ruler for several years.
The prince denied ordering Khashoggi to be killed, but later admitted it happened under his supervision.
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Last week, his father, King Salman, appointed him prime minister by royal decree.
“The royal decree leaves no doubt that the heir has the right to immunity based on status,” the prince’s lawyers said in a petition asking the court to close the case, citing other cases in which the United States recognized the immunity of a foreign head of state.
The court asked the U.S. Department of Justice to give an opinion on whether Prince Mohammed was immune and set a deadline for a response on Oct. 3.
Following the prince’s appointment as prime minister last week, the ministry said Friday it was seeking a 45-day delay to prepare its response to the court “in light of these changed circumstances”.
Supplement
US President Joe Biden, during a visit to Saudi Arabia in July to discuss energy and security issues, told Prince Mohammed that he considered him responsible for Khashoggi’s murder. He said Prince Mohammed denied his involvement and claimed those involved had been brought to justice.
Khashoggi, who criticized the heir’s policies in Washington Post columns, was killed and dismembered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He went there to get the documents necessary to marry Hatiji Genghis, a Turkish citizen.
Source: Ukrgate
