Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Turkey’s main presidential contender in Sunday’s election, warned Russia that it was behind the spread of misinformation on social media in the run-up to the vote.
Kilicdaroglu, who trails long-time leader Erdogan in the polls by a hair, did not clarify the source of his remarks.
Muharrem Ince, a third presidential candidate, stepped down on Thursday after an alleged online “character assassination” that he claims was staged. He didn’t go into great detail.
Kilicdaroglu slammed Turkey’s “Russian friends” for the “release in this country yesterday of montages, plots, deep fake content,” alleging that Russian intelligence was behind it.
You should break links with the Turkish government if you care about our relationship after May 15th. He tweeted in Turkish and Russian on Thursday night saying the two nations should continue to collaborate and be friends.
Russia is Turkey’s primary energy supplier, and the two nations have close ties. Putin and Erdogan talk on the phone on a daily basis about everything from energy to the wars in Ukraine and Syria.
In the heated campaign building up to the presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14, political representatives from both the Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu camps have complained about internet costs, including the uploading of recordings and photos.
