Global Courant 2023-05-12 21:48:52
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says Moscow is behind “deepfake content”.
Turkey’s leading opposition candidate has accused Russia of meddling in the country’s elections days before the crucial vote.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is challenging Turkey’s longtime leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sunday’s presidential vote, said “foreign hackers” recruited by his rival are preparing deepfakes — manipulated videos and soundbites — to discredit the opposition days before the election. to take.
“Dear Russian friends… you are behind the montages, conspiracies, deepfake content and tapes exposed in this country,” he said Thursday without explaining why he blamed Russia.
“If you want our friendship after May 15, stay away from the Turkish state,” the main opposition alliance candidate added in tweets written in Turkish and Russian.
The allegations came hours after a third candidate dropped out of the race after being the target of an online smear campaign.
On Friday, Kilicdaroglu told Reuters that his party has evidence that Russia is responsible for releasing “deep fake” content online.
Moscow rejects claims
In response to Kilicdaroglu’s claims, the Kremlin denied on Friday that it interfered in Turkey’s presidential election.
“We strongly reject such statements,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“We officially declare: there must be no interference.”
“If anyone has provided Mr. Kilicdaroglu with such information, they are liars,” Peskov said.
He added that Moscow “greatly appreciates” its bilateral relations with Ankara.
“Turkey has a very responsible, sovereign and thoughtful position on a whole range of regional and global issues that we face,” Peskov said.
Russia and Turkey have maintained close ties throughout the conflict in Ukraine, with Erdogan often acting as a mediator talking to both Moscow and Kiev.
The crucial presidential and parliamentary elections will take place on May 14 amid an economic crisis in the country.
Polls show secular opposition leader Erdogan ahead of Sunday’s presidential vote.
