HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Spokesperson, Ayhan Bilgen, held a press conference at the party’s headquarters.

Bilgen gave some information and comments on the HDP Presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş, hostage in prison.

Bilgen said that “after the candidacy was finalized by YSK (Supreme Electoral Council), we immediately proceeded and filed an application asking for the release of Selahattin Demirtaş. It appears that this application has not yet been discussed. We argued that there is no reason for Demirtaş to remain in prison”.

All candidates must be able to work on equal grounds

Bilgen added that “in order for this election to be contested on an equal base with the other candidates we and the other opposition candidates believe that Demirtaş freedom is a prerequisite”.

The HDP spokesperson also said that “if there was any obstacle to his candidacy, then why his nomination was approved in the first place? How can a candidate be prevented from conducting the electoral work? We know that this process is not only judicial, - added Bilgen - but if the government describes it like this, then it has to respect universal rights and ensure the minimum requirements. Otherwise, what we are facing is a totally antagonistic obstruction, some silent competition which cannot be accepted in terms of political ethics”.

Call to the public, the judiciary and the government

Bilgen called on the public, the judiciary and the government which still have to make a decision “to recognise that it is inevitable that these elections are conducted on equal and free grounds and that the candidates are free to carry out their election work. We ask that Demirtaş will not spend one more day in prison. We are inviting the government not to remain silent in this situation, but to make a concrete statement”.