FSA militants allegedly vote in Turkey's elections, governorate refutes

A video footage shared on social media showed that Free Syrian Army militants came to Defne district of Hatay province of Turkey bordering Syria, and voted in elections
Sunday, 24 June 2018 21:09

A video footage shared on social media showed that Free Syrian Army militants came to Defne district of Hatay province of Turkey bordering Syria, and voted in elections. Hatay governorate refuted claims, noting the people seen at the footage are special operations police officers on duty in Afrin.

Hatay governorate released a statement regarding the claims that Free Syrian Army militants voted in Defne district of Hatay province of Turkey bordering Syria on June 24 elections in Turkey. The allegations were based on a video footage shared on social media that shows the arrival of men on a bus without any license plate.

Hatay governorate said that the voting place for the special operations police officers still on duty in Afrin was designated 10 days ago, and the local authority 'mukhtar' had been informed before for their voting process. The governorate added " The special operations police officers voted by presenting their incumbency papers and election certificates, as a line with the decisions of Provincial Electoral Board. Therefore, the allegations on social media do not reflect the truth. Necessary inquisitions have been started."

Turkey's ruling AKP government has been carrying out its operations in Syria together with the Free Syrian Army militants. As a jihadist organisation, although FSA had carried out several bloody attacks in Syria, the AKP government and its media demonstrate FSA as a freedom fighter group against the Syrian government.