The publisher of The Washington Post slammed an announcement by Saudi officials on Monday that five men had been sentenced to death in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S.-based columnist for the newspaper.

Fred Ryan attacked a "complete lack of transparency" by Saudi investigators and said that the trial that resulted in the five men's sentences was merely a "sham."

"Those ultimately responsibly, at the highest level of the Saudi government, continue to escape responsibility for the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi," Ryan added.

From Washington Post Publisher Fred Ryan: pic.twitter.com/J2SwQHLpLF — Kristine Coratti Kelly (@kriscoratti) December 23, 2019

U.S. intelligence officials have blamed operatives working on behalf of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman for Khashoggi's death, which occurred after the columnist entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents needed for a marriage. Khashoggi was a vocal critic of the Saudi crown prince and the royal family.

Saudi officials have denied that the crown prince had any role in the murder and announced on Monday that three others were sentenced to a total of 24 years in prison over the columnist's death.