Russia accuses Turkey of trading oil with IS

Russia’s defence ministry has accused the family of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of being directly involved in the trade of petroleum with the Islamic State group.

Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said Turkey was the biggest buyer of “stolen” oil from Syria and Iraq.

Mr Erdogan said Russia had no right to “slander” Turkey with such claims.

Russia and Turkey have been locked in an angry dispute since Turkey shot down a Russian jet last month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had already accused Ankara of downing the plane on its Syrian border to protect oil supply lines.

“According to available information, the highest level of the political leadership of the country, President Erdogan and his family, are involved in this criminal business,” Mr Antonov told journalists in Moscow.

“The Turkish leadership has demonstrated extreme cynicism. Look at what they are doing!” he said.

“They have invaded the territory of another country and are brazenly plundering it.”

The defence ministry cited satellite images that it said showed oil tankers travelling from IS-held territory to Turkey.

The trucks, it said, travelled to three locations – including refineries – in Turkey and some was then moved on to a third country.

Russia said it was producing only “part of the evidence” for now and did not provide direct proof of their claim that Mr Erdogan and family were involved.

Responding to the Russian allegations, Mr Erdogan said “no one has a right to engage in slander against Turkey by saying that Turkey is buying oil from Daesh [IS]”.

He repeated a promise to resign if the claims were proven true.

US officials have previously said they have information suggesting Turkish “middlemen” were involved in the illegal IS oil trade.

The Turkish authorities have made commitments to tackle smuggling on their territory.