Pailan Publishes Photo of Erdogan and George Soros

The Armenian origin member of the Turkish Parliament, Karo Pailan, has published a photo on his Twitter page of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and billionaire businessman George Soros taken years ago. The photo has gained significant attention in the Turkish media after Erdogan accused Osman Kavala, a figure known for his liberal views and recognition of the Armenian Genocide, of being Soros's representative in Turkey and promoting his ideas.

Pailan, by sharing the photo taken in Davos in 2003, added a caption in which he stated: "Erdogan says, 'A person who financed the Gezi events is in prison. Who is behind him? The well-known Hungarian Jew Soros.'" In the photo, Erdogan and the spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development Party, Omer Celik, are seen meeting with Soros. Meeting with Soros at that time was not a crime; why should it be a crime today?"

Previously, Erdogan had accused Soros of financing the protests that began in Istanbul's Gezi Park in 2013 and spread to other cities in Turkey.