Türkiye, clashes of protesters with the police in Istanbul

During Friday's protests in Istanbul and Izmir, protesters clashed with the police – Western agencies reported. At least 10,000 people moved towards the headquarters of the authorities despite the binding ban on assemblies. The Turks go out into the streets in connection with the detention of the Imamogle Ekrem, which has been the mayor of Istanbul since 2019.

The Reuters agency published a recording on Friday evening, which shows the participants of the protest and the police cordon separated from each other. At some point, a burning metal garbage container was pushed towards the officers.

AFP agency and Turkish media reported that in Istanbul and Izmirzy in the West Turkey There was clashes between protesters and the police on Friday evening. According to AFP in Istanbul, the police used rubber bullets for gathered people.

In Izmir, the third largest city of Turkey, the safety forces were used by water cannons.

Solidarity with a detained mayor

Earlier on Friday at the headquarters of the Istanbul authorities, at least 10,000 people moved despite the ban on assemblies in force for two days. The Turks are protesting in connection with the detention of an imamogle worker, which has been the mayor of this metropolis since 2019.

The Republican People's Party, the main opposition grouping, informed that on Friday evening about 300,000 collected at the protest in front of the headquarters of the 16 million Istanbul authorities. people. The protesters expressed solidarity with the detained mayor, who is considered the political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The ban on assemblies has been in force since Wednesday in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Protests were also held in various parts of the country on Wednesday and Thursday.

The AP agency wrote earlier that on Thursday the most fierce clashes occurred at the University of Technology in Ankara. To disperse the crowd of demonstrators, the police used tear gas and water cannons. Students said that rubber bullets were used. The authorities denied reports of the use of this kind of coercion. According to the authorities, 53 people were detained during the demonstration at night from Thursday to Friday.

Closed bridges and roads

Before the meeting planned for Friday evening, the authorities closed the bridges and roads leading to the headquarters of the authorities.

The opposition mayor of the Imamogle Ekre and 105 other people were detained on Wednesday morning as part of investigations regarding suspicion of corruption and connections with the terrorist organization.

According to the “Cumhuriyet” newspaper, the politician was questioned for four hours due to the allegation of corruption. The mayor pleaded not guilty. On Saturday evening he was taken to court for prosecutors' interrogation. Imamogle denied the accusations of corruption he was made, “Reuters said.

At the weekend of the imamogle may be officially arrested by the court.

Established in the primary party of the opposition party

Most likely, on Sunday, the imamogle will be selected in the primaries of the Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for a candidate in the presidential election of 2028. About 1.5 million delegates will take part in the primaries. On this day, a symbolic vote for people outside the party is to be organized, during which people will be able to express solidarity with the mayor. Separately to April 6, CHP also convened an extraordinary party congress.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan He stated on Friday that the government would not give up the “street terror”. The authorities ensure that the judiciary is independent and calling for protests is irresponsible.

In the opinion of some Western media, these may be the largest street demonstrations in Turkey from protests in the Gezi Park in 2013.