Daijiworld Media Network - Ankara

Ankara, May 24: Turkish riot police fired tear gas and forcibly entered the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara on Sunday to evict its ousted leadership, intensifying the ongoing political crisis in the country.

According to reports, clouds of tear gas filled the party building as police broke through makeshift barricades at the entrance. People inside the headquarters shouted slogans and threw objects in resistance as security personnel moved in.

The action came days after a Turkish court removed CHP leader Ozgur Ozel from his post, annulling the results of the party congress in which he had been elected in 2023.

The court cited alleged irregularities in the election process and reinstated former CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who had lost to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2023 presidential election.

Following the court order, Ankara Governor’s office directed authorities to clear the party headquarters occupied by supporters of the ousted leadership.

Ozel and his supporters strongly condemned the ruling, calling it a “judicial coup”. The removed leadership has vowed to challenge the decision legally and continue resisting the move.

Ozel had earlier declared that he would remain “day and night” at the party headquarters while pursuing appeals against the court’s decision.

The developments have deepened political tensions in Turkey, with opposition leaders accusing authorities of using the judiciary to interfere in democratic processes.