In Turkey, the gendarmes began to check the housing of foreigners

According to compatriots new to the Turkish coast, “certain people in uniform” go straight to apartments and check documents. And if there are no tenants at home, then the neighbors are asked about them.

– This is only partly true, – the Russian-speaking wife of a Turk, who has lived in her husband’s homeland for more than 20 years, answers the question. – Such checks have always been, but not everywhere, but in places densely populated by foreigners.

Now the raids have simply become more frequent, as the authorities have closed more than a thousand districts across the country for foreigners to obtain residence permits. That is, a foreigner can rent housing there, but not for long, since this area does not give him the right to a residence permit, and without it one cannot stay in the country for a long time. But this is often violated – especially by Russians.

It is clear that they have limited access to good areas, where local residents complain about the massive influx of people of a different culture. And the Russians get an ikamet (Turkish residence permit) in a permitted area, but in fact they live as “hares” where it is better.

This is confirmed by another Russian-speaking resident of Turkey, who on the eve highlighted the same burning problem in her blog: according to Turkish law, foreigners applying for a residence permit on the basis of real estate ownership or on the basis of a lease agreement must live at the address specified during registration. But they don’t do this, so the gendarmes are looking for them: “And, as a rule, they come in the evening (rather late) in order to be sure to catch the owners of the house. If there is no one in the apartment, they can ask the neighbors or kapydzhi (an employee hired by the management company to constantly look after the house),” the Russian woman writes.

According to the compatriot, in violation of the law on registration, local “helpers” help Russians in violation of the registration law, who issue registrations in an “open” area (accessible to foreigners) for money, despite the fact that their client lives in a closed area where he is forbidden to live.

– Often “helped” – this is the owners themselves, – shares a Muscovite, who three years ago moved to the Turkish coast. – Sometimes Russian owners of real estate, part of it renting out, or Russian realtors. They will also teach you how to fool the gendarmes around your finger. Otherwise, if a discrepancy between the place of residence and registration is found, either a fine or a court and for any deportation.

The Russian-speaking blogger advises the “hares” to try as much as possible to appease the neighbors at the address of the “open” area where, in fact, you are not: “Then, if they check, they will confirm that you really live here, it’s just that you are not at home.”

– But there is still such an ambush as “kapidzhi”, – adds the Russian wife of a Turkish citizen. – This is someone like our concierge, but a man, and he cares about everything! Who went where, why, with whom, what he brought and took away … In case the gendarmes arrive, it is vital that this person knows you. Solved by money. Well, or law-abiding residence by registration.

– And our people also say that now for criticizing Turkish hosts in social networks – one or two and go to jail! Even foreigners. For the Turkish bars for 3 years, apparently, it is possible without a residence permit.

– Yes, on October 19 such a law came into force, the ruling party headed by our president advanced it to the parliament. Up to three years in prison for misinformation about the Turkish authorities, people and life in general, not only in the press, but also in social networks. Tourists are concerned in the sense that it is impossible to inflate.

Well, for example, a balloon fell in Cappadocia, two people died – this is a disaster, Turkish news was the first to report it. And someone there uploads some fake pictures and writes that in fact not 2, but 22 died … This is impossible: they will figure it out and put them in jail. Yes, a foreigner will be allowed into a Turkish prison even without an ikamet.

According to the official text of the new law, it amends Article 29 of the current Turkish Criminal Code, according to which “any person who publicly disseminates false information with the aim of causing alarm, fear or panic among the population is liable to imprisonment for a term of one to three years.”

And from January 1, guests of foreign Turkey will also have a 2% accommodation tax, which covers all local accommodation from hotels to motorhomes and rented chicken coops, as well as “all other services that are sold along with the overnight service” (in document stands for food, drink and entertainment).

“Package” tourists, apparently, will pay this tax through their tour operator or at the hotel reception, but for those who live in Turkey for a long time, they will come to the place of registration, and it would be better if the recipients were present there.

Meanwhile, in the Russian-language chat dedicated to the Turkish ikamet, there is an ad that embodies the spirit of the times: “We are a couple of Russians and Ukrainians, not married, but have applied for a family annual ikamet, we will pay for housing in a closed area.”