The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Mithat Sancar had an online meeting with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić.

HDP Foreign Affairs Committee co-spokespersons Feleknas Uca and Hişyar Özsoy, HDP Strasbourg Representative Faik Yağızay joined the online meeting with Marija Pejčinović Burić.

Sancar conveyed his party’s ideas and suggestions with regard to the problems in Turkey to Secretary-General Burić.

Sancar emphasized that the HDP is determined to continue the democratic struggle against unlawful practices such as the closure case against the HDP, the revocation of Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu's parliamentary membership, the pressures against politicians and other opponents, and the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in a presidential decree.

Sancar said that Turkey’s denial of rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and other organs of the Council of Europe is a threat not only for Turkey's democracy but also for the European human rights system.

Sancar also pointed out that Turkey’s relations with Europe should be conducted in line with the democratic principles and the Council of Europe has important tasks to perform in this regard.

Burić said she has been monitoring the Turkish government’s dealing with the HDP and other opposition groups.

Burić said they would urge the Turkish government to fulfill its international obligations concerning trustee appointments to HDP municipalities, the Council of Europe Venice Commission Report against the arrest of politicians and the ECtHR’s ruling on Selahattin Demirtas case.

Secretary General Burić emphasized that Demirtaş should be released immediately based on the ECtHR ruling, underlining that they will remain in dialogue with the HDP, which is a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in the upcoming period.