Man detained after Ukrainian tourist harassed amid New Year celebrations in central Istanbul

ISTANBUL

A Ukrainian tourist walking down Istanbul’s central İstiklal Avenue was chased and harassed during New Year celebrations early on Jan. 1, until plainclothes police officers on the street detained the harasser.

The Ukrainian woman was followed by a man asking to take a selfie with her on İstiklal Avenue, near Taksim Square, which has in recent years become notorious for crowds of men harassing women on New Year’s Eve.

Video footage shows a group of men immediately surrounding the woman to take a picture with her, without asking her permission. 




Once the crowd disperses, a man identified as an “Azeri tourist” continues to verbally harass the woman while following her down the busy street. 

The man was soon detained by plainclothes officers and taken to the Taksim police department.

The Istanbul Police Department had announced on Dec. 30 that 5,000 plainclothes police officers would be on duty on New Year’s Eve in central Beyoğlu, where İstiklal Avenue and Taksim Square are located.