Day of Democracy and National Unity in Turkey (15/07)

On July 15, Turkey celebrates an important public holiday – Day of Democracy and National Unity (tour. Demokrasi ve Milli Birlik Günü), which appeared after the dramatic events that unfolded in Turkey in the summer of 2016.

On this day in 2016, a military coup attempt took place in Turkey. Dissatisfied with the policies of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, some of the military organized and began carrying out a military coup in the country. The putschists seized a number of important strategic facilities in Ankara and Istanbul, including airports, bridges across the Bosphorus, a number of administrative buildings, studios of two television channels, announcing the overthrow of President Erdogan, as well as the establishment of martial law and the introduction of a curfew.

Opponents of Erdogan's government have announced that his – policy is a betrayal of Turkey. However, the current head of state, who was on vacation with his family at that moment, was supported by most of the army and police, and on the streets they were supported by citizens, the vast majority of whom did not accept the military coup. As a result, an armed confrontation between supporters and opponents of the current government began in the cities. The President called the putschists criminals before the law, and their actions – an attempt at an illegal unconstitutional military coup. By the evening of July 16, most of the pockets of resistance of the putschists were suppressed, although isolated clashes continued until July 18.

The failed coup killed more than 240 people and injured about 2,000 people.

Already in October 2016, Turkish President Erdogan proposed establishing a holiday in memory of those who came out on July 15, 2016 to defend freedom and democracy, defended the law and gave their lives for it.

Now on July 15, this holiday is celebrated in the country; people bring wreaths and flowers to the places of battle where the defenders of freedom have laid down their lives. Hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets of cities with national flags and photographs of the dead. The President of the country and representatives of state power, the army and the police certainly participate in wreath-laying ceremonies. Photo exhibitions, meetings with media representatives, and memorial ceremonies are held at home and abroad (on the basis of Turkish diplomatic missions).

The Bosphorus Bridge, near which some of the fiercest fighting took place in July 2016, has been renamed and is now called the «Martyrs' Bridge on July 15».

Paying tribute to the memory of the victims, the President of the country makes a speech, expressing gratitude to everyone who stood up for the defense of freedom and legitimate power, who prevented the terrible consequences of a possible civil confrontation, on the brink of which the putschists brought the country and its people.

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