Alleging that the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his family had interests in the illegal smuggling of oil from Islamic State-held territory in Syria and Iraq and were benefiting financially from the deals, Russia's defense ministry said on Wednesday that it had proof to back the allegations.
In what is being described as the most serious incident between Russia and a NATO state in half a century, Moscow and Ankara have been locked in a war of words since last week when a Turkish air force jet shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian-Russian border.
To showcase the proof behind their allegations, the Russian defense ministry officials showed columns of tanker trucks loading with oil at installations controlled by Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and then crossing the border into neighboring Turkey, in a briefing in Moscow.
While the Turkish president has vehemently denied the personal allegations against him the Russian officials did not specify what direct evidence they had of the involvement of Erdogan and his family.
"Turkey is the main consumer of the oil stolen from its rightful owners, Syria and Iraq. According to information we've received, the senior political leadership of the country - President Erdogan and his family are involved in this criminal business," said Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov.
"Maybe I'm being too blunt, but one can only entrust control over this thieving business to one's closest associates," he said.
"In the West, no one has asked questions about the fact that the Turkish president's son heads one of the biggest energy companies, or that his son has been appointed energy minister. What a marvellous family business!" alleged Antonov.
"The cynicism of the Turkish leadership knows no limits. Look what they're doing. They went into someone else's country, they are robbing it without compunction," Antonov said.
Weapons and equipments are being supplied and training is being given to the Islamic state militant by the same criminal networks which were smuggling oil from Islamic State-held areas into Turkey, alleged the Russian defense ministry.
The Islamic State's ability to produce, refine and sell oil has been significantly impacted by the Russian air force's bombing campaign, officials said.
Turkey procures oil from nowhere but a legitimate source, Erdogan had claimed last week. While challenging anyone who accused his government of collaborating with Islamic State to prove their allegations, Erdogan had said that Ankara is taking active steps to prevent smuggling of fuel.
(Source:www.reuters.com)
In what is being described as the most serious incident between Russia and a NATO state in half a century, Moscow and Ankara have been locked in a war of words since last week when a Turkish air force jet shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian-Russian border.
To showcase the proof behind their allegations, the Russian defense ministry officials showed columns of tanker trucks loading with oil at installations controlled by Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and then crossing the border into neighboring Turkey, in a briefing in Moscow.
While the Turkish president has vehemently denied the personal allegations against him the Russian officials did not specify what direct evidence they had of the involvement of Erdogan and his family.
"Turkey is the main consumer of the oil stolen from its rightful owners, Syria and Iraq. According to information we've received, the senior political leadership of the country - President Erdogan and his family are involved in this criminal business," said Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov.
"Maybe I'm being too blunt, but one can only entrust control over this thieving business to one's closest associates," he said.
"In the West, no one has asked questions about the fact that the Turkish president's son heads one of the biggest energy companies, or that his son has been appointed energy minister. What a marvellous family business!" alleged Antonov.
"The cynicism of the Turkish leadership knows no limits. Look what they're doing. They went into someone else's country, they are robbing it without compunction," Antonov said.
Weapons and equipments are being supplied and training is being given to the Islamic state militant by the same criminal networks which were smuggling oil from Islamic State-held areas into Turkey, alleged the Russian defense ministry.
The Islamic State's ability to produce, refine and sell oil has been significantly impacted by the Russian air force's bombing campaign, officials said.
Turkey procures oil from nowhere but a legitimate source, Erdogan had claimed last week. While challenging anyone who accused his government of collaborating with Islamic State to prove their allegations, Erdogan had said that Ankara is taking active steps to prevent smuggling of fuel.
(Source:www.reuters.com)