Turkish opposition leader accuses Russia of spreading conspiracies

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairperson and presidential candidate Kemal Kılıcdaroğlu accused Russia of spreading conspiracies and deep fakes ahead of elections slated for May 14.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Kılıcdaroğlu’s Twitter, the opposition leader addressed the “Russian friends” in their language.

“Dear Russian friends, you are behind the montages, conspiracies, deep fakes and tapes that were exposed in this country yesterday. If you want our friendship after May 15, get your hands off the Turkish state. We are still in favour of cooperation and friendship,” he tweeted.

Дорогие русские друзья,
Вы стоите за монтажами, заговорами, контентом Deep Fake и записями, которые вчера были разоблачены в этой стране. Если вы хотите продолжения нашей дружбы после 15 мая, держите руки подальше от турецкого государства. Мы по-прежнему выступаем за…

— Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (@kilicdarogluk) May 11, 2023

The comments came hours after another opposition candidate, Muharrem İnce, announced he was pulling out of the presidential race.

“I’m withdrawing from the race. I am doing this for my homeland,” İnce said at a press conference, according to Bloomberg.

Earlier Thursday, the Ankara public prosecutor’s office said it opened an investigation after a sex tape allegedly showing İnce surfaced on social media.