KRG denies Putin oil trade allegations

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials have denied Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent allegations surrounding oil trade between Turkey and Islamic State (IS) militants.

Chairman of the KRG Parliament’s Energy Committee Sherko Jawdat said to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency on Thursday that oil tankers shown in aerial photos and footage – presented by Russia as evidence of supposed trade – are in fact carrying oil from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to the Ceyhan marine transport terminal in southern Turkey.

Russia’s Defence Ministry earlier asserted that tankers loaded in IS militant-held territories are travelling through areas controlled by the KRG and Syria’s Democratic Union Party to reach Turkey.

The allegation Turkish oil trade with IS militants came after Turkey shot down a Russian SU-24 bomber in November, it says violated its airspace.

“Our Natural Resources Ministry has earlier announced that hundreds of tankers are carrying oil from KRG to Turkey. Oil is being shipped to Turkey with tankers and it is not a secret,” Jawdat said.

Both the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s Peshmerga fighters and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad are receiving military training, ammunition and weaponry, the former from the US-led coalition, the latter from Russia.

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