Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's chief rival in the presidential elections race accused Russia of manufacturing and spreading "deep fakes" ahead of this weekend's general elections. 

Kilicdaroglu's allegation came after Moharram Ince, a third presidential candidate, announced his withdrawal from the presidential race because of being targetted by an online smear campaign. 

"Dear Russian friends, you are behind the montages, conspiracies, deep fakes, and tapes that were exposed in this country yesterday. If you want our friendship after May 15, get your hands off the Turkish state. We are still in favor of cooperation and friendship," Kemal Kilicdaroglu said in a tweet. 

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

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Turkish presidential election candidate Muharrem Ince on Sunday announced he was withdrawing from the race, in a potential boost to the opposition's Kemal Kilicdaroglu from the Republican People's Party (CHP), the main rival of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

Ince was one of four candidates in the vote, alongside Erdogan, his main opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Sinan Ogan. A survey earlier showed Erdogan falling behind Kilicdaroglu by more than five percentage points ahead of the election.

Erdogan faces the biggest test of his 20-year rule in May elections that will decide not only who leads Turkey but how it will be governed, where its economy is headed, and what role it may play to ease conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Read more: Kilicdaroglu vows Turkey to continue pursuing balanced foreign policy