The deputy leader of Turkey's Republican People's Party (CHP) says the Turkish party seeks to improve ties with neighboring Russia in case their presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu defeats Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to Sputnik.

"We are a party that believes that it is important to have a good relationship with Russia. Not only with Russia, but with all of our neighbors," Oguz Salici told Sputnik.

Salici added, "There are a number of problems [in Turkey’s ties with Russia] but we want to solve them through dialogue and bring the ties to a new level."

The CHP deputy leader highlighted the need to deepen economic cooperation with Mosscow as he said, "We can bolster trade. The tourist sector is of high importance to us. We are committed to promoting development and prosperity in the region. We are not prejudiced against having a relationship with Russia."

Salici's comments come after a shocking tweet by Kilicdaroglu on Thursday where the presidential candidate accused Russia of interfering in Turkish elections after he attributed an online smear campaign targeted at Moharram Ince, a third presidential candidate, to Russia. 

Sevgili Rus Dostlarımız,
Dün bu ülkede ortaya saçılan montajlar, kumpaslar, Deep Fake içerikler, kasetlerin arkasında siz varsınız. Eğer 15 Mayıs sonrası dostluğumuzun devamını istiyorsanız, elinizi Türk’ün devletinden çekin. Biz hala işbirlikten ve dostluktan yanayız.

— Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (@kilicdarogluk) May 11, 2023

The deputy leader attempted to amend his party's relations with Moscow after Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Kilicdaruglu's comments rejecting claims that Russia is interfering in the elections while Erdogan said that the opposition leader should be ashamed for making these accusations.  

"No one can interfere in our elections — neither the Russian Federation, nor the US, nor anyone else. We will not tolerate interference by any country in our elections," Salici stated.

He then tried to downplay Peskov's response as being "a part of a normal process," adding that "from now on, we will observe good neighborliness in our relations."

The deputy leader avoided any comments on the sources that pushed Kilicdaroglu to make his controversial comments on social media.

Turkish elections are scheduled to take place tomorrow with both sides seeking to produce a decisive first-round win on May 14.

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