Powerful Turkey Party's 'adventures' in Armenia were PR campaign, says turkologist

The adventures of the leaders of Powerful Turkey Party in Armenia were nothing but PR, an attempt to draw attention to the party in Turkey, Turkologist Kristine Melkonyan said at a press conference today.

"Powerful Turkey Party was founded half and a year ago, has few members and does not represent any power in Turkey, and in all probability they will with this cheap-valued move be able to secure a position in Turkey's political arena," said Kristine Melkonyan.

Leader of Powerful Turkey Party Tuna Beklevic and a few other members announced that they crossed the Armenia-Turkey border early this October.

In a press conference on Friday they confirmed having crossed the border and even mentioned the exact location they crossed into Armenia.

Following that press conference Armenia's National Security Service "invited" them for interrogation. But later it released them, saying the Turkish officials could not bring substantial evidence proving their crossing of the border.

The NSS also said their behavior was "unacceptable" and offered them leaving the country. Shortly after their release the Turkish officials left Armenia.

"It is highly probable that [Turkish society's] interest for them rose. It was a PR [campaign]," said Melkonyan, noting that the party will however not succeed in the up-coming parliamentary elections.

"They have chosen the shortest way - to become MPs with one step," explained she.

Further she did not rule out that their already legal visit to Armenia might have been encouraged by Turkish authorities, aimed at spying. Otherwise crossing the state border without any permission is considered illegal and first of all it is Turkey that must have reacted to the move then.