Bahçeli says 'we don't care' ECtHR ruling for Demirtaş's release

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Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli has criticized the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) over its decision for the release of Selahattin Demirtaş, a Kurdish politician who has been behind bars for more than four years.

"We don't recognize, we don't care [the judgment] and we scream that it's void before national conscience," he told his party's provincial heads yesterday (December 24).

The European court ruled for the release of the politician on Wednesday, concluding that his freedom of expression, right to security and right to be elected were violated.

Demirtaş, who also co-chaired the Peoples' Democratic Party, has been behind bars for more than four years.

The government has dismissed the ECtHR ruling, insisting that Demirtaş is a "terrorist" and the decision is not fair.

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday accused the ECtHR of "double standards" and it can't "replace Turkey's courts." 

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu also said the decision was "meaningless."

The MHP Chair also reiterated his call for the closure of the HDP. (DŞ/VK)