RT crew reports being beaten and pepper-sprayed by Turkish police
Yasin Eken, a correspondent for RTN, reported that he and his cameraman were assaulted by Turkish riot police while covering protests in Istanbul on Sunday night. He described the police's actions as “unnecessary and uncivil.” This incident...
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Yasin Eken, a correspondent for RTN, reported that he and his cameraman were assaulted by Turkish riot police while covering protests in Istanbul on Sunday night. He described the police's actions as “unnecessary and uncivil.”
This incident took place during demonstrations in support of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was detained last week on charges related to corruption and terrorism.
In a video recorded following the altercation, Eken revealed that the police approached his crew without any warning and employed force despite clearly visible press credentials. He recounted that a group of officers removed his cameraman’s gas mask and press card before spraying him in the face and forcibly dragging him away.
“We were surrounded by some officers and they tore off the mask from my cameraman, and after doing that they used this tear gas to spray him… He was beaten by police and dragged by five or six different officers,” Eken noted. He also faced assault when he tried to intervene.
“This wasn’t just intervention, this wasn’t a form of self-defense – they were deliberately beating us, and they knew we were members of the press,” he added.
Both Eken and his cameraman suffered injuries and sought medical assistance. He later approached the officers to question their actions; they claimed to have been attacked by protesters previously as a defense for their behavior.
“That’s not justification for the action that was relayed, particularly [against] members of the press… because truth be told, we’re not here to tell any specific narrative, we’re here to report on what’s happening,” Eken stated, mentioning that he also confronted a police chief who dismissed his concerns.
Sunday’s protests were part of the fifth consecutive day of unrest in Türkiye following Imamoglu’s arrest. The opposition Republican People’s Party has called for nationwide demonstrations demanding his release and condemning what they allege is a politically motivated prosecution.
Imamoglu, who is considered the CHP's likely candidate for the 2028 presidential election, was formally arrested by an Istanbul court on Sunday and suspended from his mayoral position.
Demonstrations have spread across Istanbul, Ankara, and other major cities, with riot police employing tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters. According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, over 300 individuals had been detained by Sunday morning, with numerous injuries reported and videos circulating online showing clashes between officers and demonstrators throughout the country.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
This incident took place during demonstrations in support of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was detained last week on charges related to corruption and terrorism.
In a video recorded following the altercation, Eken revealed that the police approached his crew without any warning and employed force despite clearly visible press credentials. He recounted that a group of officers removed his cameraman’s gas mask and press card before spraying him in the face and forcibly dragging him away.
“We were surrounded by some officers and they tore off the mask from my cameraman, and after doing that they used this tear gas to spray him… He was beaten by police and dragged by five or six different officers,” Eken noted. He also faced assault when he tried to intervene.
“This wasn’t just intervention, this wasn’t a form of self-defense – they were deliberately beating us, and they knew we were members of the press,” he added.
Both Eken and his cameraman suffered injuries and sought medical assistance. He later approached the officers to question their actions; they claimed to have been attacked by protesters previously as a defense for their behavior.
“That’s not justification for the action that was relayed, particularly [against] members of the press… because truth be told, we’re not here to tell any specific narrative, we’re here to report on what’s happening,” Eken stated, mentioning that he also confronted a police chief who dismissed his concerns.
Sunday’s protests were part of the fifth consecutive day of unrest in Türkiye following Imamoglu’s arrest. The opposition Republican People’s Party has called for nationwide demonstrations demanding his release and condemning what they allege is a politically motivated prosecution.
Imamoglu, who is considered the CHP's likely candidate for the 2028 presidential election, was formally arrested by an Istanbul court on Sunday and suspended from his mayoral position.
Demonstrations have spread across Istanbul, Ankara, and other major cities, with riot police employing tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters. According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, over 300 individuals had been detained by Sunday morning, with numerous injuries reported and videos circulating online showing clashes between officers and demonstrators throughout the country.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
