Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the main election rival of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, issued a warning to Russia, accusing it of releasing fake material on social media ahead of the May 14 ballot. Kilicdaroglu, who has a slight lead over Erdogan according to opinion polls, did not specify the material. A third presidential candidate, Muharrem Ince, withdrew from the race May 11 citing a faked "character assassination" carried out online. Kilicdaroglu accused Turkey's "Russian friends" of responsibility for "the release in this country yesterday of montages, plots, deep fake content. There was no immediate comment from Russia.
Erdogan Rival Accuses Russia Of 'Deep Fake' Campaign Ahead Of Presidential Vote
Kemal Kilicdaroglu (right) holds a slight leader Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (left) in the run-up to the presidential election in Turkey.