Following the European Court of Human Rights ruling for the termination of pre-trial detention of Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, HDP Co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Sezai Temelli demand his immediate release.

The joint statement signed by HDP Co-chairs said, “The European Court of Human Rights has issued a ruling for the immediate release of our comrade and former Co-chair Selahattin Demirtas. With this ruling the court has also clarified that Demirtaş’s arrest is political.”

The statement continued: “The ECHR ruling is binding, according to Article 90 of the Constitution and Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Turkey is bound to comply with international conventions the country has signed and to comply with this ruling.”

The Co-chairs pointed out that the judiciary is facing a new test in Turkey and said, “Either they will show that they are loyal to international principles of law, the international conventions Turkey has signed and the international institutions the country is a part of, or they will declare that they have nothing to do with principles of law or international treaties, and that they don’t recognize Article 90 of the constitution.”

The statement concluded with the following:

“Demirtas, unlawfully held hostage for the last 2 years, must be released without delay. This ruling must be considered a precedent for all elected officials. Turkey has been the subject of a ruling on the violation of Article 18 for the first time.

Those who never give up on the struggle for democracy and peace will continue to be the pride of this country and this society with their resolute stance for democratic politics.

As we have been saying for the last 2 years, the place of Demirtas and all our elected officials is not in prison, but by the side of the peoples of Turkey.”