Ankara, Turkey – As Turkey mulls easing coronavirus restrictions, the governing party has come under fire for holding packed political rallies in the region that has the country’s greatest rate of cases.
In recent weeks, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has been holding a series of gatherings across the country, most attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan either in person or via video call.
However, it is events held in the Black Sea provinces of Rize, Trabzon, Giresun and Ordu that have drawn particular criticism from medical figures and the opposition.
Turkey began announcing weekly province-by-province infection levels two weeks ago and the four northeastern provinces have recorded some of the largest numbers.