Police in some areas of Istanbul used special means against groups of protesters who tried to break through police cordons.
The Cumhuriyet newspaper published footage of the dispersal of a group of protesters in the Valens Aqueduct area. It is intersected by streets leading to the City Hall and Taksim Square. They were blocked by police on orders from the authorities. The demonstrators tried to break through the cordons, and in response, law enforcement officers used pepper spray and water cannons. The situation in the area has generally returned to normal. A number of protesters were detained.
There were also clashes on the approaches to Saracane Park opposite the City Hall of Istanbul, where an organized opposition rally of thousands is taking place. A group of protesters tried to break through the metal barriers but were repelled by water cannons. The atmosphere in the Saraçhane area remained generally calm, with police controlling access to the square and cutting off large groups of protesters.
A fight broke out between lawyers and police near the Istanbul Courthouse, who were preventing them from entering the building. Earlier, detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and other suspects were brought there to give statements.
In Ankara, several thousand people gathered in Güven Park in the city center. The access roads to the park are completely blocked by police cordons. Due to the influx of people wishing to join the rally, clashes with law enforcement officers periodically occur. The most aggressive protesters have been detained.
The protests are taking place despite the authorities' ban on holding mass rallies in Istanbul, Ankara and some other cities, organized by the opposition Republican People's Party.