Kremlin dismisses accusations of interfering in Turkish elections

(Patria) - The Kremlin has denied interfering in the Turkish elections after opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu accused Russia of "meddling", the BBC reported.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russians do not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

"If someone provided Mr. Kilicdaroglu with such information, then they are liars," Peskov said.

The opposition leader did not provide details about his claims, which he made two days ago.

However, in a Twitter post that was also shared in Russian on Thursday, Kilicdaroglu said that Russians are behind "montages, plots, deep fake content and recordings published in this country".

Kilicdaroglu also said that if Russia wants Turkey's "friendship" after this weekend's elections, it should "take its hands off the Turkish state. We are still for cooperation and friendship."

Peskov insisted that Russia "greatly values" its relations with Turkey.

"The Republic of Turkey has so far taken a very responsible, sovereign, and thoughtful stance on a whole range of regional and global issues we are facing. And this position has left a positive impression on us," he said on Friday.

RELATED ARTICLE: Election drama in Turkey: Ince withdraws candidacy, Kilicdaroglu accuses Russia of fake videos

The Twitter post was not the first reference to alleged Russian interference made by Kilicdaroglu. Earlier this month, he warned government officials not to make deals with what he called the "dark web" to "meddle" in the vote. He stated that the Turkish government had made deals with "serious foreign hackers" who were paid in bitcoin.

Director of Presidential Communications Fahrettin Altun dismissed these remarks as "irrational slander".

Kilicdaroglu recently told the BBC that if he wins the presidential election, he will reorient Turkey and prioritize relations with the West, not the Kremlin.

However, his foreign policy advisor Unal Cevikoz told Russian state channel RT that there would be "no serious changes in foreign policy" towards Russia and that he believes Kilicdaroglu will "have good relations" with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Former civil servant Kilicdaroglu, who is 74 years old, will represent a coalition of opposition groups in Sunday's elections. He is considered to have a serious chance of defeating Erdogan.

More than 64 million people are expected to vote in the country and abroad. If no candidate receives at least 50% plus one vote in the first round, the presidential election will go to a second round on May 28 between the two who received the most votes.