DISINFO: President Erdogan said that Crimea is Russian territory
SUMMARY
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has actually made it clear that Crimea is Russian territory and will always be so.
RESPONSE
False claim, twisting an interview with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the American channel PBS dated September 18, 2023. The Turkish president did not make any statements about the “Russian” ownership of Ukrainian Crimea. Erdogan said that, in his opinion, at the moment it is impossible to force Russia to leave Crimea, but “time will tell.”
“Back in the year 2014, I had certain discussions and talks with President Putin on Crimea. And I was not successful in my deliberations. And I couldn't make them withdraw from Crimea. And I think it's not going to be possible for the time being either. I think only time will tell,” Erdogan said.
Turkish authorities have repeatedly stated that they do not support the Russian occupation of Crimea. Following his re-election in May 2023, Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey's continued position in supporting Ukraine and non-recognition of the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula. At the same time, the Turkish President emphasised that the Crimean Tatar people remain faithful to Ukraine.
During his speech at the Crimean Platform summit on 23 August 2023, Erdogan once again noted that Crimea is part of Ukraine and Turkey declares this at all international platforms, including the UN.
Also, the Turkish authorities have always emphasised that Turkey’s priority is to ensure the respect of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people.
See previous disinformation narratives in our database alleging that President Zelenskyy hinted that Ukraine is ready to give up Crimea; Ukraine sold Crimea to the West; Crimean people chose to be with Russia; that Crimea’s reunification with Russia was legal; that Ukraine was led by nationalist extremists and fascists; or that Crimea never belonged to Ukraine or that Crimea is a Russian sovereign region.