EU is ‘gravely concerned about continuing pressure against HDP’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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European Union (EU) Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano has released a statement about the "ongoing actions" against the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

Referring to former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, not released despite a European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgement, Stano said:

'Politically motivated judicial proceedings'

"The European Union is gravely concerned about the continuing pressure against the HDP and several of its members, which has materialised lately through arrests, replacing elected mayors, what seem to be politically motivated judicial proceedings and the attempt of lifting parliamentary immunities of Members of the Grand National Assembly.

"These developments add to Turkey's non-implementation of the ECtHR's ruling on the release of Mr. Selahattin Demirtaş as well as the detention of hundreds of local politicians, elected office holders and of members of the HDP on terrorism-related charges.

'Turkey must safeguard its democratic system'

"Any alleged wrongdoing or crime needs to be subject to due process and the presumption of innocence must be safeguarded. As a long-standing member of the Council of Europe and a candidate country, Turkey must safeguard its democratic system, including respect for human rights and the rule of law and the freedom of political association."

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(EKN/SD)