Turkish riot police fired tear gas and forced their way into the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People’s Party on Sunday to remove its ousted leadership, escalating an already tense political crisis in the country.
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According to eyewitness accounts, clouds of tear gas filled the party building as people inside shouted and threw objects at the entrance while police dismantled makeshift barricades and entered the premises.
The developments came after a Turkish court ruled on Thursday to remove CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, annulling the results of the party’s 2023 congress that had elected him, citing alleged irregularities.
Authorities later ordered the evacuation of the headquarters in Ankara following instructions from the governor’s office.
The court decision reinstated former CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who lost the 2023 presidential election to Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The CHP leadership under Ozel strongly rejected the ruling, describing it as a “judicial coup.” Ozel also vowed to challenge the decision through legal channels and stated he would continue resisting efforts to remove him from the party’s leadership.
The incident has further intensified political tensions in Türkiye, raising fresh concerns over judicial independence and the country’s political climate.
