Ankara spends billions on so-called "protection of the interests of the Turks" in Syria and Libya and steadily loses credibility among Turkish citizens, are languishing from the economic crisis and the lack of assistance from the state. Correspondent Federal News Agency visited cities in Turkey and saw, what short-sighted policy led republic Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Watch our video
"Stay at home" - quickly infects Turkey sank into restless urging the authorities. Due to the quarantine during a pandemic of a new coronavirus in big cities life stopped: Istanbul looks deserted, if it walked by the plague.
The most popular city in the world has become the epicenter of the infection of the virus COVID-19. As of April 1, here sick almost nine thousand people - more, than in Izmir and Ankara. Today the total number of cases in the country has reached 27 thousand.
Shops and cafes are empty, Most institutions do not work. Pages of newspapers and TV programs broadcasts jammed epidemic, tourists and locals in a panic.
In an attempt to protect themselves from the coronavirus some abuse alcohol: Hurriyet newspaper reported 15 dead. Due to the cancellation of flights at the airport in Istanbul, thousands of tourists a few days could not go home. Authorities have canceled all international flights, and recently and completely closed for entry and exit 31 country town. The beginning of the tourist season delayed until end of May.
"The media and the government are causing panic among the people, they force us to no end to think about it. They are trying to intimidate us!"- outraged resident of Istanbul John Dzhinges.
Passion in the streets of the tourist center of the country and without enough coronavirus: Turkish authorities got into the habit to sponsor the action of anti-Russian nationalists.
"The brutal and cruel Russian [Syrian President] Bashar Asad, wait for the all-consuming anger of the Turkish nation, which has always been the sword of justice in the history of mankind ", - shouts participant of the February action near the building of the Consulate General in Istanbul, Russia.
It is thanks to the support of the authorities, incident caused unrest in Syria could ignite absurd in Turkish society hatred of Russia and Russian tourists. strangely, Why Turkish nationalists still not was accused Moscow coronavirus itself.
"Due to the recent incident, the Turks were very depressed in Syria, after killing our soldiers. Our people did not expect this from Russia. many stopped to treat Russian as Allies From this moment ", - says correspondent FAN owner of art studio in Taksim Avni Akmehmetoglu, who went on about the hysteria, fanned by Turkish media.
Among the members of the provocateurs "of the Association of Students of the rights and freedom of thought", which are active anti-Russian propaganda social networks. provocateurs office we found in Taksim, it was closed.
"It's nationalists, we call them fascists. Here they have more power, than in other countries, because they are supported by the government, - I am sure Istanbul filmmaker Mehmet Akbulut. - Of course, it is dangerous for Russians ".
Against the background of anti-Russian hysteria significantly increased concerns of Russian tourists, say local tour operators.
"They, who come for the first time, ask, as herein belong to Russian, how people relate to, that we've got the military situation, any conflicts, issues new born. People, which have already been in Turkey, understand, it is on tourism no effect ", - I told the manager of the travel agency FAN "Vita Tour" Yousif Li.
Erdogan is passionate about Syria and harshly suppress any criticism of the military presence of the Turkish military in the republic. Mass arrests of journalists are commonplace, but the population of this knows nothing - an alternative point of view on events in the country available to ordinary citizens. Contrary to Erdogan's statement on ending support for terrorists, Turkish military continues to incur losses in Idlib, allegedly, committed suicide because of the coronavirus. AND, According to opposition media, the first year undergo rehabilitation in Turkish hotels and hotels.
"Wrong, Erdogan is, it generally has nothing to do there ", - says a resident of Istanbul Olga Male.
According to Mehmet Akbuluta, Turkish government must withdraw its troops home and stop to oppose Syria's President.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Only last year a military operation in Syria, Turkey has spent about 19 billions of dollars. And on the economic package of emergency measures to combat the effects COVID-19, according to local media, allocated 15.
"WITH 11 March no medical masks with us. when they come, I do not know", - says correspondent FAN pharmacist pharmacy in Antalya.
Adopted for idlibskih groups, landing in Libya, resettlement of refugees in Europe from the Turkish authorities have money, and the purchase of antiseptics, medical masks, repair of facades and timely garbage disposal in the heart of Istanbul - no.
"I do not look here and get great pleasure from this!"- says the scattered bags of garbage on the sidewalks near the tourist Istiklal Street Anna Demchuk from Saratov.
Turks cautiously pass by the ruins of apartment buildings, ruined by rain.
"I've seen a similar picture on the same street in Istanbul two or three years ago,. Then, like the house that something fell on the man, -Tell us a local resident Volkan Baba. - This place can be just as dangerous. These protections authorities should set along the sidewalk ".
Tourist Industry of the Republic on the verge of collapse due to the lack of tourists and timely state support. Half of the rooms in the center of Istanbul, the hotel is empty. Leaders in panic.
"Customers are asking: "What should we do?"We are responsible: "We are ready to postpone your reservation up to the opening of frontiers. When the epidemic subsides, You can come", - sighs the hotel manager in Sultanahmet toner Dzhoglga. - For the first time we are faced with such a situation. I hope, we will survive this ".
Due to the outbreak of the "Chinese" pneumonia temporarily closed the Grand Bazaar.
"Everyone is afraid of, no one spends money now, - the seller says dervish. - No buyers, have no business, there is nothing, workers sitting at home, shops close, they have nothing to pay ".
Such deserted resort Antalya locals and foreigners have not seen even in the coldest non-touristic season. Shops and restaurants are closed, hotels guide massively dismiss staff.
"No one here does not come, how to work? - complains local taxi driver Ufuk. - All stores, large shopping centers are closed ".
This oriental sweets shop opened near the new Quai month ago. Plans to open in her coffee shop and restaurant for the summer season collapsed together with the proceeds.
"Instant shock! - the seller says Fikret Yusuf. - now in debt for some week. Wholesalers have and do not bring the goods. Or take it all back, or ask. Two options: or close or remain. Will endure to the last, we'll see, What will happen, as the president decides ".
The owner of the shop silverware, father of two children, will have to close business at any time, if in the near time, the state does not offer assistance.
"If the government says: you no longer have to pay a month or two, this will be good. We ate not earn, what we pay? It is dangerous for us ", - I said, Cemil Vurgun.
entrepreneur wife is a schoolteacher, because of the epidemic coronavirus - from home. The whole family with two children survive on her modest monthly allowance. The head of the family is waiting for help from the President.
"Turkey abolishes tax on lodging in hotels, which already had to be introduced 1 April. But, If the hotel now, no one lives, all sitting at home, what I mean? certainly, this measure is not very effective ", - the journalist says, expert on Turkey Yasar Niyazbaev.
Desperate Turks ask Erdogan to recover and switch to the ambitious plans for the Syrian economy problems.
"We, Turks, anyway, in many, in 30 %, no business, neither money!"- outraged stambulets Hakan Cerkez.
Mehmet Akbulut said, that more 70% Turkish people do not approve of the foreign and domestic policies of Erdogan.
"Turkey's main problem - it's not Syria, and our economy, and coronavirus. Because of them, the majority of the work is rapidly losing. All do not care, what's going on in Syria. The only, who are interested, This president and his entourage ", - said the man.
It was Russia, in his opinion, able to direct the policy of the president on track.
"Order 20-25% Turkey's population support Assad. Residents around the world, members of European governments, USA, Russia may stop Erdogan, because he listens to them anymore, than Turkish. for example, Vladimir Putin, - concluded the director of the movie from Istanbul. - Let him push him to the, to leave Syria. After I showed him, where is the truth, and falsehood. Because he knows it better, than Erdogan ".
Author: Vladimir Stoevskiy
