WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier on Thursday, at the DC Superior Court, Eyup Yildirim and Sinan Narin pleaded guilty to beating peaceful demonstrators during a clash in May in front of the US Ambassador to Turkey’s residence, the Armenian Weekly (AW) reported, citing witnesses who attended the hearing.
"Travesty: Plea agreement would drop all hate/bias charges, resulting in only a 12 month + 1 day sentence for May 16 attack at Turkish ambassador's residence," ANCA said in a Twitter post.
Just days after the brawl, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a non-binding resolution condemning the incident while other members of Congress urged the Trump administration to expel Turkey's Ambassador and suspend military aid to Ankara.
The Turkish embassy released a statement in the wake of the clashes blaming the altercation on the protestors who were supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Washington Kurdish Institute Policy Director Yousif Ismael told Sputnik that the incident allows Congress and the entire US government to see firsthand how even in DC pro-Erdogan forces can silence democracy — just as they do in Turkey.
The final sentencing for Yildirim and Narinis is set for March 15 at the DC Superior Court.