ANKARA, March 21. /TASS/. Thousands of people in Turkey are protesting against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Smaller rallies are being held in Izmir, Mersin and other cities.
The opposition-organized rallies are proceeding peacefully. In Ankara, Mayor Mansur Yavas, representing the opposition Republican People’s Party, addressed the demonstrators in Guvenpark. According to a TASS correspondent, the situation there is calm. Police and water cannons have been deployed to the area, as well as to the office of the ruling Party of Justice and Development and some other potential protest spots.
In Istanbul, people have gathered in Sarachane Park, located in front of the city administration’s building, for the third day in a row. Meanwhile, according to the A haber television channel, a group of provocateurs are trying to clash with the police on the approaches to the park. Now and then, protesters come up to the police and toss various objects at them, mostly toilet paper and sticks. Some are setting off firecrackers. The police are using pepper spray against the most aggressive demonstrators.
Meanwhile, authorities in Ankara, Izmir, and Istanbul have prohibited mass rallies and demonstrations. The police have been instructed to clamp down on any attempts to violate the ban while showing maximum restraint.