Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the opposition’s presidential candidate, told Reuters on Friday that his party had concrete evidence of Russia meddling in Turkey’s elections.
The leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) spoke to Reuters after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that people who mentioned such allegations to Kılıçdaroğlu were liars, adding that Russia valued its ties with Turkey.
The controversy over Russia’s potential interference in Turkey’s 14 May polls started after a tweet by Kılıçdaroğlu on Thursday.
“Dear Russian friends, you are the ones behind the fabrications, plots, deep fake content, and tapes that have been exposed in this country. If you want our friendship to continue after May 15, keep your hands off the Turkish state. We are still in favour of cooperation and friendship,” he said in his tweet which he shared in both Turkish and Russian.
“If we did not have it (concrete evidence), I wouldn’t have tweeted,” the presidential candidate told Reuters, adding that his party did not get in touch with the Russian embassy over the issue.
“We find it unacceptable for another country to interfere in Turkey’s election process in favour of a political party. I wanted the whole world to be aware of this, that is why I made this call openly by a tweet,” he said.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Kılıçdaroğlu of attacking Russia during an interview broadcast by 24 different television channels on Friday.
Calling his rival’s behaviour “an act inappropriate for a statesman,” Erdoğan added, “Now give your reply to Peskov.”
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also commented on the issue on Saturday, saying that casting doubt on the elections is an injustice to the country.
“Elections in Turkey have always been transparent. Arguing that there is an interference in elections is not correct. In terms of the country’s image, having democratic elections is beneficial. It is an injustice to this country to make statements like Russia is interfering in elections, creating such an atmosphere before the polls. We will never allow anybody meddling in elections,” he said during an interview with CNN Turk.
There is a difference between interfering in another country’s elections and preferring one candidate over another, added the minister.
“We can also say in other elections that a certain person’s win will be better for Turkey but we do not interfere in their elections, we do not say to vote for that person,” he said.
