Thirty-four Russian women are being held at the Akyurt deportation center in Ankara following police raids on nightclubs, the Russian embassy in Turkey said on November 4. The women were detained on October 23 at venues called Maxim, Havana and Foliberger.
According to the Turkish authorities' position as relayed by the embassy, they were detained over alleged violations of "morality and public safety."
The embassy said a local lawyer was working with the detainees. Their mobile phones had been confiscated, but they could call relatives from a landline. The diplomatic mission said it was seeking consular access and information about detention conditions. According to the embassy, a court hearing is expected to determine their subsequent status.