Turkey sacks country's only Christian mayor in crackdownNovember 19, 2016 - 16:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The only Christian mayor in Turkey has been ousted by the government as it continues a crackdown following a failed coup attempt, Premier reports. Februniye Akyol has been removed from her role as co-mayor in the city of Merdin. She was the only Christian to hold office in one of Turkey's 30 metropolitan municipalities. The 27-year-old was elected in 2014 on the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) ticket. In July the Turkish government said a bid by the military to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had failed. At least 90 people were killed, with 1,154 reportedly injured, following a night of gunfire and explosions in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara. Hundreds have been sacked as civil servants while the government has also deposed local elected officials and replaced them with temporary officials. More than 30 mayors have been fired so far amid claims they have links with the Kurdish PKK party. 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 | Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. Schengen visa cost won’t change for Armenia – diplomat The increase in the cost of a Schengen visa will not apply to citizens of Armenia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said. Yeremyan Projects opens state-of-the-art dairy production plant Yeremyan Projects officially launched the Yeremyan Products state-of-the-art milk processing plant in Yerevan on May 24. Armenian PM’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Vanadzor The helicopter transporting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an emergency landing in Vanadzor. |