The Press Secretary for the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, stressed that Moscow does not acknowledge the Turkish opposition’s claims of meddling in the country’s upcoming presidential election scheduled for 14 May. He underscored that Russia rejects these accusations in no uncertain terms, framing them as an unfounded accusation that does not align with reality as he sees it. This response came amid discussion of the Republican People’s Party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s allegations, which charged Russia with interfering in the Turkish vote. The Kremlin spokesperson noted that the opposition statement had caused a notable stir within Turkey and signaled Russia’s firm posture on the matter. (TASS)”
Peskov reiterated that Russia will respect whatever choice the Turkish people make in their electoral process, emphasizing that foreign interference claims have no place in the normalization of bilateral ties. He pointed out that Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the assertion of involvement as baseless and asserted that such claims do not reflect the state of cooperation that has developed between the two nations in recent years. The spokesman highlighted the breadth of collaboration across sectors such as tourism, agriculture, trade, energy, transport, and people-to-people contacts, arguing that these areas have yielded tangible benefits for both societies. He described this mutual engagement as genuinely advantageous for the ordinary citizens of Russia and Turkey, stressing that it goes beyond political rhetoric. (TASS)”
Former President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appeared to push back against opposition criticisms aimed at the Turkish leadership, asserting that Ankara’s relationship with Moscow remains a priority on the international stage. Erdoğan argued that ties with Russia are just as important today as those with Washington, framing Russia as a key partner in a complex geopolitical landscape. This position reflects Ankara’s balancing act as it navigates competing alliances while seeking stability and growth for Turkey’s own interests. (TASS)”
Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu weighed in by reiterating that the opposition’s stance is a reflection of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s own campaign line. Çavuşoğlu suggested that the opposition’s perspective is influenced by a broader and increasingly heated electoral atmosphere, underscoring concerns about possible external influence as the elections approach. The dialogue around interference allegations continued to shape the narrative ahead of the 14 May vote, with officials in Ankara and Moscow carefully managing public statements to avoid escalation while maintaining a focus on bilateral cooperation. (TASS)”