Turkey's parliament approves bill giving police heightened powersMarch 27, 2015 - 14:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's parliament has approved a contentious security bill giving police heightened powers to search, arrest and use firearms, the Associated Press reports. The bill, passed early on Friday, March 27,was criticized by opposition parties who say the government is leading Turkey toward authoritarianism. The measure is also a blow to a Kurdish peace process aimed at ending an insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of people, the AP notes. The legislation expands police rights to use firearms, allows them to search people or vehicles, and detain people for up to 48 hours without court authorization. The measures would give governors — not just prosecutors and judges — the right to order arrests. The main opposition said it would take the measure to Turkey's Constitutional Court seeking its overturn. Legislators have brawled during debate on the bill. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |