Turkey police stormed the headquarters of the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, on Sunday after members had occupied the building for three days.
Officers reportedly used tear gas and rubber bullets to force their way inside. Human rights groups and international observers are calling it a major escalation in Turkey’s political crackdown, warning that the government is steadily weakening what remains of the country’s democratic opposition.
Turkish riot police storm opposition offices after leaders ousted
Turkish riot police forced their way into the headquarters of the country’s main opposition party on Sunday, days after a court dismissed its leadership.
Clouds of tear gas billowed outside the Republican People’s Party (CHP) building in Ankara, where party members had blocked the entrances with a makeshift barricade.
Footage from the scene showed those inside shouting and throwing objects towards the entrance, and police being sprayed with hoses.
Party leader Özgür Özel had vowed to defy an appeal court decision on Thursday which declared his election null and void, in a move further cementing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s grip on power.
The court decided that Özel should be replaced by Kemal Kilicdaroğlu, a 77-year-old party veteran who was defeated by Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential election.