Opinion polls show Kilicdaroglu surpassing Erdogan. In a move seen as bolstering Kilicdaroglu’s chances in the election, another of the four presidential candidates withdrew on Thursday, saying he had been the subject of smear campaigns.
At a rally attended by hundreds of thousands, Erdogan asked those present to watch a ‘very important’ video clip on one of the screens, in which Kilicdaroglu appeared smiling as he called out to voters in saying, “Come on, go together to the ballot box.”
Next, the clip shows clips of prominent Kurdistan Workers’ Party leader Murat Karelian apparently saying “Come on” and a group of gunmen stood beside him cheering, and back- plan the sound of a song for Kilicdaroglu campaign. Then Kilicdaroglu’s photo appears again in the clip.
Erdogan asked in strong language while showing the clip: “Will the patriotic citizens of this country vote for them?”
According to Reuters, the clip in which Kilicdaroglu spoke was taken from one of his campaign clips, while the PKK footage was taken from a music video posted on the internet ten months ago, in which a group of militants appeared encouraging their imprisoned leader.
Erdogan commented on this clip during a meeting he held with a group of students, and it was broadcast by Turkish channels on Thursday evening.
Erdogan said at this meeting: “Kilijdaroglu is supported by the leader of the terrorist group. He says (go) and the other says (go).”
In response to a question about the clip and its use by Erdogan in his election campaign, Turkish presidential officials declined to comment.
“What saddens me deeply is that this is the language used by the president himself,” Kilicdaroglu said in an interview with Reuters on Friday, describing the passage as a lie.
And he posted a tweet on Twitter, saying, “I tell young people, someone is shamelessly directing you towards black propaganda with fake content.”
Kilicdaroglu also expressed concern on Thursday night when he accused Russia of being responsible for posting fake documents on social media ahead of the vote, and he told Reuters on Friday he had hard evidence.
The Kremlin said what was raised about Russian interference in the election was nothing but fabricated lies by fraudsters.
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