“That was the Strong Turkey Party was looking for in Armenia. No unequivocal answer to this question can be given. It may be political PR, spirit of adventure and even espionage,” the expert in Turkic studies Kristine Melkonyan told journalists Oct. 30.
According to her, the visit to Armenia by members of the Strong Turkey Party, a little-known political force in Turkey, was a cheap thrill aimed at reaching a certain level in the Turkish political arena. The expert also thinks that the aim of the visit may have been espionage. “Doubts arise due to the fact that they crossed the border unnoticed by the frontier guard on both sides. If they did so the Turkish authorities would arrest them for illegally crossing the border. That did not happen, which means the Turkish Government supported their action. I think their border crossing story is a great lie,” Melkonyan said.
The RA National Security Service reports that Tuna Bekleviç and Baybars Orsek were invited to the National Security Service and warned that their behavior and statements were unacceptable. The Turkish citizens were offered to leave Armenia.
NEWS.am reminds readers that on Oct. 10 evening Turkish mass media reported Chairman of the Strong Turkey Party Tuna Bekleviç and his associates crossed the Armenian-Turkish border. In his turn, Colonel Andrey Guzeev, Vice-Chief of the Frontier Department, RF Federal Security Service, refuted the media reports.