The Turkish Ministry of Justice has approved the transfer to Saudi Arabia of the trial of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkish TV channel Euronews reported on Friday.

The ministry's move comes days after a Turkish prosecutor called for a stay of the case against 26 Saudi nationals accused of killing Khashoggi in 2018.

The latest developments in this case coincide with a thaw in relations between Ankara and Riyadh, which reached a historic low after the Khashoggi case.

The Turkish Ministry of Justice, citing the lack of approval from the Saudi authorities for Turkey's request for the extradition of suspects on trial as part of the investigation, referred to article 24 of Law No. 6706 on international judicial cooperation in criminal matters as the rationale for its consent to the transfer of the case , according to Euronews.

Khashoggi, who was a columnist for the Washington Post and criticized the kingdom's crown prince and his policies, was allegedly assassinated by a group of Saudi agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. His body was never found.

Arrest warrants for the suspects could not be executed, so defense statements could not be taken during the trial, according to Turkish prosecutors. The trial of the suspects in absentia has been postponed until April 7.

Those convicted in absentia include two former aides to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty International condemned Turkey on Friday over a possible transfer of the case, writes Ahval.