The Party of European Socialists calls for the immediate release of the co-leader of its member party HDP, Selahattin Demirtas, after the European Court of Human Rights ordered the termination of his pre-trial detention.

 

The PES fully supports the statement made today by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, who expressed hope that Mr Demirtas will be released shortly, and similar cases in Turkey will be dealt with soon.

 

PES President Sergei Stanishev said:

 

"Selahattin’s rights have been violated. Turkey has violated the Human Rights Convention. We said it from the start, we repeated it in front of his prison in Edirne and now it’s the European Court of Human Rights that says it. Turkey is a member of the ECHR. It’s time for Turkish authorities to release him immediately.

 

"We welcome the words of High Representative Federica Mogherini today and we welcome her frankness in her talks with Foreign Minister Cavusoglu. The coup attempt two years ago – which the PES condemned – cannot be used as a blank cheque to silence the opposition, to persecute political dissent and to violate individual and political rights. We expect to meet Selahattin as a free man as soon as possible and we expect similar cases to be dealt with urgently", Stanishev added.