Arrest of Demirtaş to Continue

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The arrest of the Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş shall continue, the 19th Heavy Penal Court in Ankara has ruled.

Demirtaş said he does not demand release in his defense statement. Imprisoned in the Edirne Type F Prison, Demirtaş attended the hearing via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS). His attorneys were present with himself and in the court hall.

"I do not demand relase"

The Prosecutor's Office gave its opinion as to the accusations after Demirtaş and his attorneys made their defense statements. It demanded the continuation of the arrest because of "the existence of the findings which indicate strong suspicion against Demirtaş and the time he spent in prison is reasonable considering the duration of the sentence that he is charged for."

Demirtaş, who has been giving his defense statement in the past three days, said that he will not defend himself against the opinion of the Prosecutor's Office and repeated that he does not demand release.

The court, in accordance with the opinion of the Prosecutor's Office, ruled that the arrest of Demiraş shall continue because of "the existence of the findings which indicate strong suspicion against Demirtaş" and "Demirtaş not having completed his defense."

The next hearings will be held on April 24 and 25.

What happened?

The European Court of the Human Rights (ECtHR) verdict for the release of Demirtaş was rejected by the 19th Heavy Penal Court.

Short after the ECtHR gave its verdict on Demirtaş, the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice upheld a prison sentence given to him on September 7, 2018 by the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court.

Demirtaş's attorneys appealed against the verdict at the Constitutional Court. The application has not been concluded yet.

Demirtaş has been arrested in the Edirne Type F Prison since November 4, 2016.

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(AS/VK)