Tense hours in Izmir: Barriers placed in square ahead of Cemil Tugay protest
Ahead of a planned protest by the YENI Party against Cemil Tugay's potential move to the AKP, Cumhuriyet Square in Izmir has been closed off with barriers.
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Following reports that Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay would join the AKP, preparations were made for a protest that the YENI Party intended to hold in the city. The party initially planned to march from in front of the First Bullet Monument in Konak Square to the Sovereignty House.
After the Izmir Governor's Office did not grant permission for the march, the route was changed. Accordingly, it was decided that the demonstration would begin today at 19:00 in Cumhuriyet Square and continue to Gündoğdu Square.
In the morning hours, security forces surrounded Cumhuriyet Square with barriers. The security measures in the square drew attention ahead of the protest planned for the evening.