ISTANBUL
Istanbul public prosecutor's office on Monday accused a group of football fans who took part in last year's anti-government street protests of attempting to overthrow Turkey's democratically-elected government
The protests began as an environmental demonstration in Istanbul and quickly mushroomed into a nationwide anti-government protest over plans to replace Gezi Park in Istanbul with a shopping mall. The fan group was prominent in the clashes with the police during the protests.
Istanbul Public Prosecutor's office prepared an indictment with a demand for life in prison on thirty-five people for "attempting to overthrow the legally elected government through illegal means."
"It is specified that they attempted to occupy the Prime Ministry Office in Istanbul's Besiktas district to create a perception of an 'authority vacuum' in Turkey, also simultaneously encouraging the protesters in Ankara to occupy the office of the Prime Ministry," the indictment read.
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