19 charged for attack on protesters outside Turkish embassy

19 charged for attack on protesters outside Turkish embassy

By CRISTIANO LIMA

08/29/2017

Nineteen people have been indicted on charges of attacking protesters outside the Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C., during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's diplomatic visit with President Donald Trump in May.

According to an Associated Press report, 15 of the individuals facing formal charges are Turkish security officials, who were seen roughing up protesters in various videos posted after the skirmish. U.S. officials announced their intent to file charges stemming from the incident in June.

The violent exchange was widely condemned, including by the Trump administration, which issued a statement rebuking the embassy staff for their role May 17.

“We are concerned by the violent incidents involving protestors and Turkish security personnel Tuesday evening. Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest,” the State Department said in a statement.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry fired back at the allegations, however, summoning the U.S. envoy to Turkey to Ankara to lodge a formal complaint over the incident and casting blame on the U.S. for its occurrence.

The clash, which was partially observed by Erdogan according to footage of the incident, was seen as a potential litmus test for how the Trump administration would deal with its NATO ally, led by the autocratic Erdogan. Trump has repeatedly praised the Turkish leader.

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