Turkish PM’s office says leaked Erdogan recordings are fake
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office condemns as fake audio recording allegedly of him discussing how to hide large sums of money
Leaked recordings of the Turkish prime minister and his son allegedly discussing how to hide large sums of money are fake, the premier’s office said, as the government grappled with the latest fallout from a damaging corruption probe.
The recordings... are the product of an immoral montage and completely untrue
“The recordings... are the product of an immoral montage and completely untrue,” Erdogan’s office said in a statement late on Monday.
“Those who created this dirty setup targeting the prime minister of the Republic of Turkey will be held accountable within the law.”
The leaked discussions, which could not be independently verified, were said to have taken place on December 17, the same day a high-level corruption probe erupted implicating key Erdogan allies.
In one conversation, Erdogan can supposedly be heard briefing Bilal about the police raids, which saw top businessmen and the sons of former cabinet ministers detained on allegations of bribery, gold smuggling and illicit dealings with sanctions-hit Iran.
The prime minister has blamed his ally-turned-rival, US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, for instigating the graft probe, accusing him of seeking to create “a parallel state” in Turkey.