Kevin Martin appears in court for stabbing of Russian diplomat in Ottawa

An Ottawa man appeared in court this morning facing one charge connected to the stabbing of a Russian diplomat near his country's embassy in Ottawa.

Ottawa police charged Kevin Martin, 32, with aggravated assault after Andrey Gorobets, 44, suffered stab wounds inside an apartment building at 400 Stewart St. in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill neighbourhood.

Gorobets, who works at the nearby Russian embassy, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Martin was arrested on Friday and he made a brief court appearance in Ottawa on Saturday morning. His lawyer, Michael Davies, said Martin would return to court on Monday.

• Russian diplomat stabbed near embassy in Ottawa

Many staff members from the Russian Embassy, as well as other embassies, live in the building where the stabbing took place, according to other residents.

Court documents also show that Martin also lives in the building, which is about a block away from the Russian Embassy. 

The Sandy Hill area is home to many embassies, as well as student housing and ambassadors’ homes.

Not politically motivated, Baird says

There is no indication the stabbing was politically motivated, according to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

"We're obviously deeply, deeply disturbed by reports and our department has been in touch with the Russian Embassy," Baird said Friday afternoon. "Thus far, we have nothing to indicate this was anything to do with being politically motivated, a politically motivated incident in nature."

Baird said Canada's relationship with Russia would not be a factor in the investigation.

On Friday, military police said Ottawa police asked them to come to the scene, but "it was quickly determined that the Ottawa Police Service is the force of jurisdiction in this matter."

Police also said a Russian interpreter was needed to translate for witnesses during the investigation.

Ottawa police continue to investigate.