Referendum in Turkey: there was a shootout at the polling station, three died

Three people died in Turkey as a result of a shootout that occurred at the polling station during the voting at a referendum on a change in the country's constitution. It is reported by Hürriyet Daily News.

The incident occurred in the southeastern Ile Diyarbakyr, in the village of Yabanardy, Ilce Chermik, at 9:30 in the morning local time (corresponds to Moscow). In the courtyard of the school, where the polling station was opened, several local residents entered the dispute regarding the amendments made to the referendum. During the skirmish, Mehmet Yyldyz, the son of Mukhtar (chapters) of the village, opened shooting at his opponents.

Two victims, Abdulrezazak Yyldyz and Sheikhmus Yildiz, died in an ambulance. The third - Idris Yildiz - died already in the hospital.

Gendarmerie (internal troops) began the investigation. The protection of the polling station is strengthened. Mehmet Yyldyz and his brother Tahir are detained.

Whether the detainees and sacrifices are relatives or namesakes, is not specified in the publication. It is also not clear from the message whether all the dead were opponents of Mehmet Yildiz, the publication declares a shootout, and therefore, after the shooting arranged by the son of Mukhtar, his opponents opened the fire.

Project 18 of amendments to the Constitution was submitted to the Great National Assembly of the country on December 10, 2016 by the ruling party of justice and development . The amendments provide for the transformation of Turkey from the parliamentary republic to the presidential. The post of prime minister is abolished; At the same time, the legislative and executive powers of the president are expanding. The head of state gets the opportunity to appoint and remove the ministers from the posts, as well as deprive the positions of members of the Supreme Court. The norm prohibiting the president to lead the political party is also excluded.

January 21, 2017 The Great National Assembly approved the bill . However, the number of votes cast for for was not enough for the document to enter into force without a popular vote.

Opponents of changes in the Constitution indicate that the adoption of amendments to concentrate all power in the hands of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had already taken a number of steps to establish a personal dictatorship in the country.