Turkish gov’t buys thousands of pepper spray canisters in run-up to elections

As the May 14 elections approach, the Interior Ministery’s police and gendarmerie departments have increased the number of their tenders for the purchase of pepper spray. Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Murat Bakan on April 19 stated that the Gendarmerie General Command instructed all its personnel to be ready to stand by their units on the election day.