The key facts

  • 34 Russian women detained on October 23 at Ankara clubs Maxim, Havana and Foliberger
  • Official reason cited: 'violations of morality and public security'
  • Vitaly Milonov suggested the trigger was behavior at the clubs and urged observing local norms

Detentions in Ankara

On October 23, during police raids on nightclubs in Ankara — Maxim, Havana and Foliberger — 34 Russian citizens (women)were detained. Turkish authorities cited 'violations of morality and public security' as the reason for the arrests. The women's smartphones were confiscated, but they were allowed to contact relatives via a landline phone. The further fate of the detainees is to be determined by a court: a hearing is planned in the near future, and a decision on the case will be made based on its outcome.

Reaction in the State Duma

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee for the Protection of the Family, Fatherhood, Motherhood and Childhood Vitaly Milonov, in a conversation with the Govorit Moskva radio station , suggested that the Russian women may have violated the norms of conduct established in Turkey. According to him, tourists must observe the traditions and rules of the country they are visiting, and Turkey, as a sovereign state, has the right to set its own requirements for behavior in public places.

The deputy's assessment

Milonov doubted that the detention occurred without grounds and linked it, presumably, to the women's behavior at the club. 'I think it was connected with the fact that at the nightclub they behaved in a way that is not quite traditional for a traditionalist society. If that is not the case, it needs to be investigated. I am sure our diplomats are working on this,' Gazeta.Ru quotes him as saying. At the same time, the deputy noted that if there are no grounds, the case must be investigated. He also warned that inappropriate actions in other countries can lead to detention.

What is known and what remains unclear

Details of the detentions were previously reported, however no official Turkish position beyond the wording about 'violations of morality and public security' has been given in the publications. It is unknown what exactly the claims against the detainees were and how long the proceedings will last: key decisions are expected based on the outcome of the upcoming court hearing.