Russia attacks Turkey with opinion polls conducted in major Western countries

Russia attacked Turkey on Thursday by publishing poll results which show many Westerners believe Turkey might have a hand in suspicious oil trade with the extreme group Islamic State (IS).

The polls commissioned by Sputnik, a media service operated by Rossiya Segodnya -- an agency wholly owned by the Russian government, show 72 percent of French respondents believe that Ankara is turning a blind eye to Turkish traders buying oil from IS while 52 percent of Germans, 41 percent of Britons and 38 percent of Americans think that Ankara might be supporting the illicit oil business.

The survey was conducted earlier this month by Populus, a British research firm, and the French Institute of Public Opinion.

Moscow accused the Turkish authorities of being involved in illegal oil trade with IS after Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet in Syria in November 2015.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has categorically rejected the Russian accusation.

In a recent televised speech, Erdogan said that George Hasawi, a Syrian holding a Russian passport, was the lead agent in illegal oil purchases from IS.

Oil has become a major source of revenue for IS after it controlled vast territory stretching from Eastern Syria to Northwest Iraq, where large operating oilfields are located. Endi