Local elections in Turkey: one dead in clashes in Kurdish region Russia insists on Ukrainian involvement in attack near Moscow

One person has been killed in a violent clash in the south-east of the country during local elections in Turkey. Eleven others were injured in the incident in the Kurdish metropolis of Diyarbakir on Sunday, state news agency Anadolu reported.

A dispute over the election of the community leader has escalated in the central Sur district. During the altercation, those involved attacked each other with firearms, stones and sticks. It was initially unclear who exactly was involved in the incident. The pro-Kurdish party DEM (formerly HDP), which has strong support in the southeast, said when asked that it was investigating the incident.

Elections are especially important for the Kurds

The elections in the southeast are especially important for the country’s Kurdish minority. The DEM party is under great pressure there. The pro-Kurdish party had won 65 mayoral positions under the name HDP in the last local elections, but the government in Ankara had the majority of politicians removed from office over terrorism charges and replaced by curators. Erdogan accuses the legal pro-Kurdish party of terrorist connections, which she rejects.

About 61 million people in Turkey are called upon to elect mayors, municipal councilors and other local politicians. The elections are also seen as a sentiment test for recently re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (sda/dpa)