The Republic of Turkey’s embassy in Washington, D.C. has retained the beltway offices of Burson-Marsteller to provide integrated public relations services in a bid to support the embassy’s communications objectives in the U.S.

Republic of Turkey

The WPP operation’s work will include media outreach, monitoring and analysis; event support; stakeholder engagement; social media counsel; and support for Turkish consulates across the U.S., according to Foreign Agents Registration Acts documents filed in May.

The retainer comes the same month that a violent clash occurred outside Turkey’s D.C. embassy between anti-government protesters and the security team to Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was visiting Washington.

The event, which resulted in the arrest of two Turkish bodyguards, was referred to by D.C. Metropolitan Police as a “brutal attack on peaceful protesters.”

The Turkish government said its security detail responded only in self-defense to the demonstrators, who it claims were associated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. Government officials also blamed the U.S. for “security lapses” and “aggressive and unprofessional actions,” which ultimately led to the brawl.

The State Department, which referred to the melee as “deeply disturbing,” has since summoned the Turkish ambassador over the incident and said there will be a “thorough investigation.” Senator John McCain, speaking with “Fox News Sunday,” said the U.S. should “throw their ambassador the hell out.”

The Turkish embassy's agreement with B-M, which became effective May 1 and terminates on December 31, fetches the agency a fixed fee of $1.1 million to be paid by the Turkish government in three installments.