CHP Kars Deputy İnan Akgün Alp's harsh criticism of Ardahan Governor Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli for mingling with the public in sportswear during his speech at the TGNA General Assembly sparked a massive row between the two neighboring provinces. Alp's controversial remarks, "Send these governors a grape leaf to wear," caused public outrage. According to a report by an Ardahan newspaper, the people of Ardahan stood by their governor and retaliated against Kars by taking a swipe at their road conditions.
The backlash from the Ardahan front against the Kars MP's remarks was swift. Defending their governor as a man of the people who acts sincerely and brings great benefits to the city, citizens, politicians, and journalists from Ardahan extended full support to Governor Çiçekli. Responding sharply to the criticism, Ardahan residents slammed their neighbors, saying, "Instead of meddling with our governor, look at your own broken roads that have turned into the surface of Mars."
Kars Residents' Claim That "Ardahan Belongs to Us" Further Escalates Tension
Meanwhile, the Kars front stood firmly behind their member of parliament, sharing messages that further fueled the fire. Reminding everyone that Ardahan was historically a district of Kars, residents of Kars commented, "Ardahan used to belong to Kars; of course, our deputy will monitor and criticize that region as well." With the involvement of local associations, artists, and writers from both cities in these social media spats, the tension between the two neighboring provinces has virtually turned into a digital war.
