Turkey involved in Islamic State oil trade, Russian defence ministry claims
Russia’s defence ministry on Wednesday claimed that it has evidence that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was involved in the illegal smuggling of oil from Islamic State-held territory in Syria and Iraq.
During a briefing at Moscow, defence ministry officials showed satellite images which they said revealed tanker trucks loading with oil at installations controlled by IS in Syria and Iraq, Reuters reported. The trucks then crossed into neighbouring Turkey, the ministry said.
"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 Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov.
"Maybe I'm being too blunt, but one can only entrust control over this thieving business to one's closest associates."
"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-in-law has been appointed energy minister. What a marvellous family business!"
Erdogan denied the claims, saying he would resign from his post as President if it were true. He added that he did not want relations with Russia to deteriorate further.
Ankara and Moscow have been at loggerheads since last week when a Turkish airforce jet shot down a Russian warplane near the border of Syria and Turkey.