Coup; massacre; war; and now attack on the main opposition leader Kılıçdaroğlu
The convoy of CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu was attacked yesterday (August 25) in Artvin while it was headed to Şavşat district to continue the party’s program in the province. In the armed attack, while Kılıçdaroğlu was taken to a safe area, a young gendarme who got wounded during the clash lost his life.
ÖMER ŞAN / Artvin
The security car leading the convoy of CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu from Şavşat to Ardanuç in Artvin got targeted in an armed attack on August 25th. While the convoy was moved to the highway’s construction site, Kılıçdaroğlu was taken to a safe area securely. Giving a statement after the attack, Kılıçdaroğlu mentioned that he was fine and that they were in safety. It has also been reported that a young gendarme lost his life, while another young soldier got wounded during the attack.
CHP Chair’s Artvin programme had been scheduled for July 22nd, however, because of the July 15 coup attempt and the developments in its aftermath, it was postponed. Having left Ankara on a plane early in the morning of August 25th, Kılıçdaroğlu arrived in Kars, and, then, travelled to Artvin’s Şavşat district through land route. After holding a public meeting in Şavşat, Kılıçdaroğlu was then set to go to Ardanuç to take part in the opening ceremony of the Ardanuç Municipality’s new office building.
Gunfire on the leading security car
While the convoy of the Chair was passing by the Yanıklı Village on Şavşat-Ardanuç route, shots were fired with long barreled weapons from the forested area of Soğuksu onto the leading security car of the convoy.
Although one of the advisers of Kılıçdaroğlu had initially claimed that it was not an attacked on the convoy but rather another clash taking place nearby, it has then been understood that it was not so.
During the first set of firings, two young gendarmes were wounded; and, the special security forces and the security guards from the CHP convoy began countering the attack by shooting.
It’s been claimed that the attack was carried out by a group from PKK in the region and that they were getting ready to also carry out a missile attack while the convoy was passing by.
A young soldier lost his life
One of the soldiers who got wounded during the long-lasting clashes lost his life while being taken to hospital in an ambulance. The condition of the other wounded soldier is reported as to be fine.
While the Şavşat-Ardanuç route was blocked to traffic during and after the attack, it has been announced that the attacking group was targeted with gunfire from helicopters by security forces.
After giving his initial statement about his and other members’ health condition in the convoy, Kılıçdaroğlu also shared a statement from his official Twitter account, saying ‘We have just one life that Allah has given us. Let it be sacrificed for this country, this land, and this nation!’
Leaders called Kılıçdaroğlu
Leaders called Kılıçdaroğlu after the attack to wish him blessings and to obtain information about the attack. Among those who called were President Erdoğan, PM Yıldırım, HDP Co-Chairs Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ, and MHP Chair Bahçeli.
A kidnapping had also occurred in the same region a month priorly
On the other hand, a man driving his car around the same area in Şavşat had been stopped by a group and kidnapped. After the operations on this incident, the group had let the hostage free but fled the area and headed towards Eskikale Village. Operations to catch this group have continued in light of the information provided by the freed hostage.
Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-