Erdogan Accuses US Billionaire Soros Of Financing Protests In Turkey In 2013

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st November, 2018) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused US billionaire George Soros of financing the 2013 protests in Turkey.

"The person, who financed terrorists during the Gezi incidents, is currently in prison [Osman Kavala]. And who is behind him? The famous Hungarian Jew George Soros. This is a man who was assigned to divide nations and shatter them. He has so much money and he is spending it in these ways," Erdogan said, as quoted by the Hurriyet newspaper.

According to the president, the leader of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who supported the protests, is acting in the interests of Soros.

The protests began in Istanbul on May 31, 2013, over the decision of the authorities to cut down the Gezi Park next to Taksim Square to build a shopping and entertainment complex in its place. The protesters were supported by half the provinces of Turkey and the Turks living in Europe. Protests escalated into a wave of opposition to government policies.

Political activities of Soros have been criticized and opposed in many countries. Most notably, in June, Hungary passed a series of laws, officially known as the "Stop Soros" package, which place restrictions on NGOs and criminalize help to undocumented migrants.