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Erdogan says ready to vacate presidential office if loses elections

"We will consider any election outcome as legitimate," Turkish President said

ANKARA, May 12. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that he is ready to vacate his office if he loses presidential polls on May 14.

"We came to power in Turkey democratically. And they way we came to power, we will do everything necessary for democracy if our people decides otherwise (votes for the opposition candidate - TASS). We will consider any election outcome as legitimate," he said in an interview with the Turkish mass media two days ahead of the elections.

He expressed confidence that people would support him and his party at the upcoming polls.

The presidential election in Turkey will be held on May 14. Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu are the main contenders for the presidency. In order to win, a candidate must secure at least 50% plus one vote. Otherwise, a runoff election will follow on May 28. Analysts don’t rule out such an option.

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Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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US airdropping humanitarian aid to Gaza not enough — UNRWA chief

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Some want to dismantle UNRWA to prevent creation of Palestinian state — agency chief

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Ukraine’s frontlines may collapse, if Russia decides to focus its offensive — paper

Ukraine is at a great risk of its frontline collapsing wherever Russian generals decide to focus their offensive

World Badminton Federation extends indefinitely its ban against Russia

According to National Badminton Federation of Russia Chairman Andrey Antropov, there were 151 votes cast in favor of Russia's suspension and 78 against

US continues hunt for Russian citizens in third countries — Russian envoy

Anatoly Antonov says the Americans seek deportation of Russians to the United States

Russia strikes major thermal power plant in western Ukraine — underground resistance

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Death toll in Armenian bus accident rises to five

Nine people were injured, the country’s Interior Ministry said

Ukrainian forces trapped on outskirts of Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR official

Igor Kimakovsky reported that the enemy "experiences problems with logistics and the supply of ammunition and essentials"

Russian cabinet extends obligatory sale of foreign currency revenue for one year

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Musk travels to China — Reuters

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

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Azov units suffer heavy losses in fighting near Avdeyevka, DPR official says

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Southern neighbors of US to regain stolen lands — Russian Security Council’s secretary

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Russia proposes new rules for foreigners buying sim cards, requires biometric data

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More children killed in Gaza over 6 months than in all world conflicts in 4 years — UNRWA

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Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

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The bombers will get advanced precision weapons while their radio-electronic devices and engines will be similar to the equipment aboard the latest Tu-160M2 aircraft

Russian Interior Ministry puts Ukrainian lawmakers, TV anchors on wanted list

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UNRWA chief believes Israel preparing large-scale military operation in Rafah

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Russia’s Tasoyev wins 2024 European Judo Championship in over-100kg weight category

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Russian cutting-edge missile frigate holds artillery firings in Arctic drills

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Belarus detects 7 violations of its airspace from Ukraine so far this year

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Russia delivers 35 precision strikes on Ukrainian military sites over week — top brass

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Bill submitted to Russian legislature seeks more control over immigration

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Erdogan moves back from May 9 his trip to US — report

The report hasn’t been officially confirmed

Scholz reiterates German soldiers, Taurus long-range missiles not to be sent to Ukraine

"There will be neither German soldiers nor NATO troops in this war," the German Chancellor emphasized

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Russia closely watches all NATO maneuvers — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the lion’s share of the alliance’s wargames is designed precisely as the unfolding scenarios of confrontation with Russia

US can send Ukraine Patriot air defense systems currently deployed in other regions

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Belgium’s rejection of exchange of assets in Russia to impede process — Kremlin

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Germany lukewarm to China’s idea of international investigation into Nord Stream blasts

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Russia provides UNRWA with platform to explain Gaza situation to BRICS — agency chief

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Israel reports another airstrike on Hezbollah facilities in south Lebanon

Military infrastructure in the area of Markaba in south Lebanon was attacked

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Russian border guards are in direct contact with foreign partners, Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said

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Ukraine’s army chief reports deteriorating battlefield situation to Western allies

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Russian stock indices rising on Saturday

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Israeli police arrests seven people after protest in Tel Aviv

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Ukraine struggles to use GLSDB efficiently due to Russian jamming capabilities — report

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Ukrainian forces fire 72 rounds of ammunition at DPR settlements over past 24 hours

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Kiev requests over 800 Vector reconnaissance drones from Germany — media

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UNRWA chief considers involving ICC in investigation into deaths of his staff in Gaza

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Portuguese government refuses to pay reparations for colonial past

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Ukrainian army says it will not ‘hide’ Abrams tanks, but keeps quiet about their location

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Alrosa may leave Catoca project in Angola — Finance Ministry

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Gazprom Export files lawsuits against European energy companies

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Polish general expects Russia to continue wiping out Abrams tanks in Ukraine

Waldemar Skrzypczak underlined that "no tank is invincible"

Air defenses down three drones near oil depot in Kaluga Region — governor

There are no casualties and no destruction

Russian investment in India’s strategic sectors of economy reaches $1.26 bln

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One floor at Vnukovo airport evacuated due to bomb threat — police

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Russian T-14 Armata tanks tested in Syria

Serial supplies of Russia’s new T-14 tanks on the Armata platform to Russian troops will begin in 2021

Russian troops wipe out military train with Western armaments in DPR over past day

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US first caused, now purposefully drags out Ukraine conflict — Shoigu

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Russia to grant asylum to Kyrgyz citizen convicted of participation in special military op

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China to send two pandas to American zoo in ten-year loan program

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Kremlin vows legal action against US bill on seizing Russian assets

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Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

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Refinery in southern Russia partially suspends operations after Ukrainian drone attack

Ten unmanned aerial vehicles flew directly into the plant, causing a big fire

Press review: Belarus' new national security strategy and Russia, US butt heads at UN

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Eight violations by US-led international coalition’s aircraft recorded in Syria

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Istanbul accords could have stopped hostilities in Ukraine — German newspaper

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Bank of Russia keeps key rate at 16% per annum again

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Erdogan’s May 9 visit to US postponed to more convenient date — Foreign Ministry

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Kremlin spokesman says Zelensky’s fate is sealed

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West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

Hezbollah shells Israeli Air Force base, neighboring settlements

Al Mayadeen TV reported that at least 30 projectiles were fired at the facility from several rocket launchers

Reuters producer in custody over YouTube publications posted on NavalnyLIVE web platform

Konstantin Gabov is accused of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (participation in an extremist community), the court’s press office said in statement

Russia warns US, NATO against harming its security — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that "the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers"

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket with European Galileo satellite on board

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No conditions for talks with Kiev at this time — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stated that the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin "is well-known"

UNRWA to dissolve only when Palestine becomes full-fledged state — agency chief

And if there is a political solution, agency can phase out, Philippe Lazzarini said

Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

The Russian Investigative Committee added that measures are underway to locate their whereabouts and bring them to criminal liability