Russian President Vladimir Putin had already accused Ankara of downing the plane on its Syrian border to protect oil supply lines.
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Erdogan´s claims of Russian complicity with IS mirror allegations made by Moscow against Turkey and its leader in recent days. The ministry insisted the images definitively prove Turkey’s massive oil trade with the IS.
In what has turned into a very serious episode of he-said-she-said, one can only hope that this conflict is resolved peaceably and that if Turkey truly is involved with ISIS oil, that they are brought to justice for their involvement with a terrorist organization.
The ministry said the Western route took oil produced at fields near the Syrian city of Raqqa to the settlement of Azaz on the border with Turkey. “Those who make such slanderous claims are obliged to prove them”.
Moscow deployed long-range air defense missile systems to its base in Syria 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the border with Turkey and slammed an array of economic sanctions on Turkey, including a ban on imports of fruit and vegetables and the sales of tour packages.
Antonov went on to say that “in the West, no one has asked questions about the fact that the Turkish president’s son heads one of the biggest energy companies, or that his son has been appointed energy minister. What a marvellous family business”. Antonov said with sarcasm.
The ministry did not specify what the direct evidence was of the involvement of Erdogan and his family.
“The cynicism of the Turkish leadership knows no limits”.
The deputy minister stressed that the release of evidence by the Russian military wasn’t aimed at forcing the Turkish president to abandon his post.
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner categorically rejected Russia’s allegations. “The Turks have been great partners to us in the fight against ISIL”.
Hours after Britain’s Parliament authorized military action in Syria, its Tornado warplanes struck oil fields in eastern Syria that help finance IS. “Look at what they are doing!” he said. The Russian pilot was killed by militants after bailing out from the plane and a Russian marine was also killed on a rescue mission to retrieve a second pilot.
The Russian and Turkish foreign ministers met in Belgrade on the sidelines of the OSCE meeting – the first senior-level meeting since the incident – but the exchange was frosty.
He said the best way to stop the oil trade from IS-controlled territory into Turkey would be to close the Turkey-Syria border.
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Moscow claimed it had not, and Mr Putin has also accused Turkey of profiting from smuggling ISIS oil through the country, which Recep Erdogan said was “slander”.
