A man who stabbed Turkish painter Bedri Baykam for backing monument to Armenian-Turkish friendship turned himself in to police in Istanbul.

Mehmet Celikel entered Istanbul police department and said he had stabbed Baykam, Turkish Hurriyet newspaper reported.

Famous Turkish painter Bedri Baykam was stabbed during the protest action organized against demolition of monument dedicated to Armenian-Turkish friendship in Kars. Injured painter called for help but not a single car tried to help him.

Later Baykam managed to reach the hospital by taxi.

Earlier during a meeting in Akatlar cultural center, Baykam voiced criticism against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for calling the monument “monstrous”.