Former Russian lawmaker Semyon Baghdasarov suggested on Russian propagandist Volodymyr Solovyov’s show that Moscow should take advantage of the “difficult situation” in Turkey to annex Istanbul, a city it says “historically belongs” to Russia, The Moscow Times reported.

“Let’s gather some strength in Turkey and return to our state what historically belongs to us – Constantinople,” Bagdasarov said on Solovyov Live.

Baghdasarov argues that Turkey is now weakened by the economic crisis and the consequences of devastating earthquakes, so Russia should take advantage of this and claim what is historically rightfully hers.

He also called for Turkey to be “kicked out” of Central Asia, to reduce its influence in Ukraine and to be “knocked out” of the South Caucasus.

“Thank God for the crisis. The crisis should end with the collapse and annexation of our territories,” Bagdasarov added.

Baghdasarov’s remarks came after Kemal Kilicdaroglu, an adviser to Turkey’s sole opposition candidate Unal Cevikez, promised in an interview with Politico that if the opposition wins Turkey’s upcoming elections, Ankara will remind Russia of its NATO membership.

According to Cevikes, relations between Russia and Turkey are currently asymmetrical, as Ankara depends on the import of Russian energy resources.

“In negotiations with Russia, we will certainly strive for equal relations. But we will also remind Russia that Turkey is a member of NATO,” he said.

Elections in Turkey

President Tayyip Erdogan officially set the date for Turkey’s parliamentary and presidential elections on May 14, a month earlier than planned, signing the decision during a ceremony broadcast live on Friday, Reuters reported.

Erdoğan thus launched the race for the biggest test of his 20-year rule, one that will decide not only who leads Turkey, but also how it is governed, where its economy is headed and what role it might play in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

In early March, Turkey’s main six-party opposition alliance named Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), as its presidential candidate to challenge Erdogan.

Polls show that the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections will be tight, and the Opposition Bloc will even be slightly ahead of the ruling alliance.

A bloc of opposition parties has vowed to reverse many of Erdogan’s policies on the economy, civil rights and foreign affairs, and many see the election in about two months as the most important in the republic’s 100-year history.

Follow the latest events of the 388th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.