Erdogan files criminal complaint over the hanging of his effigy in Stockholm
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday has filed a criminal complaint via his lawyer over the hanging of his effigy during a protest in Swedish capital.
Erdogan’s lawyer Huseyin Aydin said a criminal complaint was filed with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office demanding an investigation against the perpetrators, which he deemed to be the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
"A criminal complaint was filed with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office demanding an investigation to be launched against the perpetrators of the demonstrations in Stockholm targeting our President that constitutes a crime, which were understood to have been organized by the terrorist organization PKK,” Aydin said via social media on Friday.
İsveç'in Stokholm kentinde,terör örgütü PKK tarafından organize edildiği anlaşılan gösterilerde,
— Hüseyin Aydın (@hsynaydn) January 13, 2023
Cumhurbaşkanımızı hedef alan ve suç teşkil eden eylemler nedeniyle failler hakkında soruşturma açılması talebiyle Ankara Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığına suç duyurusunda bulunulmuştur.
On Thursday, Turkey’s pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper published a video showing a life size effigy resembling Turkish President was hung on a pole during a protest in front of the City Hall in Stockholm.
Terör örgütü PKK sempatizanları İsveç'in başkenti Stockholm'da belediye binasının karşısında Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'ın maketini astı.
— Yeni Şafak (@yenisafak) January 12, 2023
Erdogan’s communications director Fahrettin Altun immediately condemned the incident, calling on the Swedish authorities “to take necessary steps against terrorist groups without further delay."
Turkish Foreign Ministry also summoned Staffan Herrstrom, Sweden’s ambassador to Turkey to convey Ankara’s message that Stockholm is expected to fulfil its promises in the context of the Madrid deal between Turkey, Sweden and Finland in June.
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom on Thursday said the Swedish government protects an open debate about the political choices, but strongly distances itself from threats and hatred against political representatives.
“Portraying a popularly elected president as being executed outside City Hall is abhorrent," he said.
