Russia: Turkey's President, Family Buys ISIS Oil

Russia has made its boldest slam yet about Turkey in the wake of its downed military jet: Russia's deputy defense minister on Wednesday said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is directly involved in buying oil from the Islamic State. Turkey buys stolen oil from Syria and Iraq and then resells it, and "the appalling part about it is that the country's top political leadership is involved in the illegal business—President Erdogan and his family," said Anatoly Antonov, per USA Today. Antonov said the oil is moved from ISIS territory to Turkey via tanker trucks, adding that Moscow has satellite images and video to prove it. Erdogan countered that he considers the allegations "slander" and said he would step down if they are proven, reports Reuters.

The Russian ministry displayed images allegedly showing tanker trucks stocking up on oil at ISIS posts in Syria and Iraq, and then crossing into Turkey. Antonov gave no evidence implicating Erdogan or his family, though he did note that one of Erdogan's sons is energy minister, while another is head of "one of the biggest energy companies." He then pressed journalists to conduct their own investigations. "We are confident that, with your help, truth will prevail," he said. Russia also accused Turkey of supplying 2,000 militants, 120 tons of ammunition, and 250 vehicles to Islamic State and Nusra groups in the past week alone, reports Sputnik News. (More Russia stories.)