Municipal crews have repainted buildings along the route expected to be used by NATO delegations ahead of the alliance’s July 7-8 summit in Ankara, according to Turkish media reports.
The work is part of larger preparations for the gathering, which have also included security measures, restrictions on public events and administrative leave for many public sector employees in the Turkish capital.
Images show workers repainting apartment buildings along the road connecting Esenboğa Airport to central Ankara, the route expected to be used by visiting delegations.
According to the reports, the exterior painting is being carried out free of charge by municipal teams. The work has attracted attention because it is focused on areas that foreign visitors are expected to see during the summit.
Road maintenance and renovations have also been carried out along parts of the route. Photos and videos circulating on social media show barriers erected in some locations along the road, reportedly to block the view of vacant lots and other areas considered unsightly.
Earlier this week Ankara police asked the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and district municipalities to collect stray dogs before the summit. Officials said the measure was part of security preparations for the event.
Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin’s office has also announced restrictions for the summit week. Under measures that will remain in force from July 6 through July 12, public employees in the districts of Altındağ, Çankaya, Etimesgut, Gölbaşı, Keçiören, Mamak, Pursaklar, Sincan and Yenimahalle will be put on administrative leave unless they are assigned duties related to the summit or work in health, security or emergency services.
The governor’s office also suspended public events during the same period, including examinations, symposiums, panel discussions, graduation ceremonies, festivals, concerts and celebrations. Weddings will be permitted outside areas designated as sensitive security zones.
Major political visits and international summits in Turkey are often preceded by visible urban preparations, including road resurfacing, facade painting and temporary removal or covering of construction sites along official routes. Such practices have periodically attracted public attention and criticism, particularly when they are perceived as prioritizing the appearance of select areas over long-term urban infrastructure needs.