Turkish riot police stormed the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People’s Party in Ankara on Sunday following a controversial court ruling that removed party leader Özgür Özel and reinstated veteran politician Kemal Kilicdaroğlu.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded after police used tear gas and force to enter the CHP headquarters, where supporters of Özel had barricaded entrances in protest against the ruling. Footage from the scene showed clashes between rival factions inside the party building, with demonstrators throwing objects while police pushed through the barricades.
Özel condemned the operation in a video message shared online, declaring that the opposition party was “under attack.” After emerging from the building, he accused authorities of attempting to remove the opposition from political life and vowed continued resistance against the government.
Leading hundreds of supporters through the streets of Ankara, Özel later marched toward the Turkish parliament, promising that the party would continue its fight “in the streets and public squares.”
The crisis erupted after an appeals court overturned a previous ruling and declared Özel’s 2025 election as CHP leader invalid over allegations of vote buying. The decision reinstated Kilicdaroğlu, the longtime opposition figure who lost to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential election.
Turkish media reported that representatives of Kilicdaroğlu requested police assistance to gain access to the party headquarters after allegedly being denied entry by Özel’s supporters. Authorities said the Ankara governor ordered police to enforce the court’s decision.
The court ruling also reportedly nullifies decisions made by the party’s current executive leadership, creating uncertainty over the future direction of Turkey’s largest opposition movement.
Human rights groups and opposition figures have strongly criticized the government’s actions. Human Rights Watch warned that the developments reflect growing pressure on democratic institutions in Turkey.
Özel has repeatedly accused Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, commonly known as the AK Party, of attempting to eliminate political rivals ahead of future elections.
The political tensions come as Erdoğan faces constitutional limits on seeking another presidential term unless early elections are called before 2028 or constitutional changes are introduced.
Turkey’s Justice Minister Akin Gürlek defended the court’s decision, saying it strengthened public confidence in democracy and the rule of law.
The latest political turmoil follows ongoing pressure against opposition figures, including jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, widely viewed as one of Erdoğan’s strongest political challengers.