Europe sharply reacted to a wave of arrests in Turkey, threatening with non -rejection in the EU

The head of the EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini and a member of the European Commission for the neighborhood of Johannes Khan on Sunday made a joint statement in which police raids and arrests of a number of journalists and media representatives in Turkey were convicted. According to them, such actions are incompatible with the freedom of the press, which is the main principle of democracy.

“We expect that the principle of the presumption of innocence will prevail and remind of an integral right to an independent and transparent investigation in the event of any alleged offense in full respect of the rights of the accused,” Interfax quotes the commander who was widespread in Brussels.

Mogherini and Khan said that this police operation was “directed against European values ​​and standards”, which Türkiye is striving for and which should be the core of strong relations with the EU.

They promised to bring their concern to the police operation against the media in Turkey to the EU Council on General issues, which will discuss in Brussels a policy of expanding the European Union, including in relation to Turkey. "We remind you that any further step towards the adoption of any Candidate country depends on the full observance of the law and fundamental rights," the report said.

Recall that on Sunday in Turkey, a large -scale operation was underwent against supporters of Fethullah Gulen - the opponent of President Erdogan, who left the country. 27 people were detained. Among them are the editor -in -chief of the large Turkish newspaper Zaman Ekre Dumanla, the head of the Samanyolu television channel Hidaiyet Karaja, the producers of this television channel Salikh Aslan and Angin Koch, the screenwriter of the television programs Macbule Cham, as well as the former head of the Istanbul Police to Combat Tufet Ergucuier and the senior. police officers of several provinces. In a written statement by the chief prosecutor Istanbul Hadi Salikhoglu, the detainees are accused of "creating a terrorist organization, forgery and slander."

According to Reuters, the Zaman office in Istanbul gathered a crowd chanting: "Free press cannot be plugged." The editor -in -chief of the ecreas of the Dumanla from the center of the crowd shouted to the police: "The person who needs to be arrested is waiting here. Come on, come and take me. I am waiting for you." Later, however, the dummies were still arrested.

The State Television Company TRT Haber reports that 32 people were arrested for arrest. The editor of the English -speaking Today's Zaman BUNET KENES told Reuters that the police showed him papers about the "conspiracy to overthrow the state system."

The writer and preacher Fethullah Gulen, who left for the United States in 1999 and has not returned to Turkey since then, is considered one of the most authoritative Turkish thinkers. Gulen is actively involved in public discussions about the future of Turkey, Islam in a modern state, the role of education and education in the development of personality.

Erdogan accuses Gulen and his Himim movement of creating “parallel structures” within the country that extend their influence to society and state institutions. Gulen rejects suspicions of the intention to overthrow the Erdogan government.

Relations between them worsened after accusations of corruption brought last year to officials close to Erdogan. The scandal led to the resignation of three Turkish ministers, the dismissal of thousands of police officials and hundreds of judges.

USA joined the condemnation of the Turkish authorities

The US authorities also condemned the arrests of journalists in Turkey, this was announced today by the official representative of the American State Department Jen Psaki.

“We are closely following the reports that the Turkish police conducted a series of raids and arrests throughout the country. It seems that among the goals were the media that the government openly criticized,” Psaki said. According to her, "freedom of speech and independence of ships are the key elements of each healthy democracy, it is ensured by the Turkish Constitution," RIA Novosti reports.

"As friends and allies of Turkey, we urge her authorities to guarantee that their actions do not violate the foundations of democracy in the country," Psaki added.