Russia levies Islamic state oil claims at Turkey
Russia's defence ministry today claimed that it has proof Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan and his family were benefiting from the illegal smuggling of oil from Islamic State (Isis) held territory in Syria and Iraq.
Deputy defence minister, Anatoly Antonov, said during a major briefing on new findings concerning Isis funding by Moscow: "Today, we are presenting only some facts and confirm that a whole team of bandits and Turkish elites stealing oil from their neighbours is operating in the region."
"According to our data, the top political leadership of the country – President Erdogan and his family – is involved in this criminal business."
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Relations between the two countries have become increasingly tense in the wake of the downing of a Russian military jet by Turkey near the Syrian border last week. Moscow has since hit Ankara with a number of sanctions.
However, Erdogan hit back, saying no one had the right to "slander" Turkey and that he would stand down if such allegations proved to be true.