CNN —For Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s longest serving ruler, Sunday’s upcoming election may be the end of a two-decade winning streak.
Following an attempted coup to unseat Erdogan, the Russian president called his Turkish counterpart and offered his country’s support.
Still, it was not enough to change the eastern tilt of Turkish foreign policy.
Whether Erdogan wins or loses, Ankara is unlikely to untangle itself from Moscow and turn back to the West.
(The Turkish president has previously dismissed concerns about press freedom in his country).