REUTERS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has challenged the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader to reveal any documents proving allegations that he and his family have money stashed away in offshore tax-havens, according to Hurriyet Daily News.
"If Tayyip Erdogan has a single penny abroad, he should prove it. If proven, I will not stay in this presidential post for even one minute," Erdogan said on Nov. 26, Hurriyet wrote.
"In which off-shore bank does Tayyip Erdogan have an account? Prove it. If you cannot prove it, you yourself will have to quit politics. If you do, I will quit politics and my post in the presidency," he added.
His comments came following CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu's accusations that Erdogan's close circle deposited money in off-shore tax havens, after the Paradise Papers revelations showed the names of Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's sons as the owners of multiple companies based in the tax haven Malta.
"Erdogan, I will ask you a simple question: Do you know that your children, your brother-in-law, your father-in-law, your brother, and your former executive assistant have deposited millions of U.S. dollars into a company based in off-shore tax-havens?" Kilicdaroglu said on Nov. 21, referring to a specific company without citing its name.
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"Reveal to us however many millions of dollars you have. And where is that money? Let us see it," Kilicdaroglu said.
In response Erdogan blasted Kilicdaroglu, demanding that he reveal documents proving his accusations.
"I am asking this person, whose name I would not even consider uttering: Are there documents proving your accusations? If there are, make them public and I will do what is necessary," he said.
"If you don't, admit that you engaged in defamation and apologize," he added.
The president also stated that his lawyers had filed a legal complaint against Kilicdaroglu, demanding non-pecuniary damages worth 1.5 million Turkish Liras.
Erdogan's lawyers filed the complaint against the CHP head on Nov. 24, demanding 1.5 liras (around $350,000) for the comments.