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Reflections from our correspondents on the ground in the Turkish capital.
ISTANBUL BLOG: PKK leader’s call to disarm not first of its kind. Nor is it serious
February 28, 2025
Not-so-negligible note circulated by Abdullah Ocalan’s messengers missed by international media.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Just your everyday evil
February 20, 2025
Erdogan’s men are going about seizing opposition city halls again. In itself, it’s nothing remarkable. But the anointing of rival Imamoglu as his challenger could be.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Making a fool of law
January 28, 2025
Turkey continues to simply ignore European court rulings not to its liking.
ISTANBUL BLOG: “Dog bites man” story as Erdogan arrests more mayors, but there’s more here than meets the eye
January 15, 2025
Two issues to watch: shape-shifting opposition politician Imamoglu and sad sight of boomers failing to solve Kurdish question.
ISTANBUL BLOG: After “conquering” Damascus, Erdogan turns his eye to the Kurds
December 9, 2024
US controls eastern Euphrates airspace. Will Trump White House return mean Kurdish forces lose their air cover? In wider picture, fears Syria will become “second Afghanistan” are all too real.
ISTANBUL BLOG: As Syria rancour rises, Putin deadpans “congratulations” to Turkey on nailing 50% official inflation
December 6, 2024
The golden rule is that whoever does business with Erdogan eventually pays through the nose. Russia’s leader is no exception to this rule.