Turkish top court blocks pro-Kurdish HDP bank accounts

Turkey's Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday to block pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) bank accounts containing Treasury financial support as it continues hearing a case seeking the HDP'S closure over alleged militant ties, state-owned Anadolu news agency said.

The move against the HDP, the third biggest party in parliament, comes ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections that are set to be held by June and which are expected to present a major challenge to President Tayyip Erdogan

Leading political parties in Turkey get regular government aid. The amount is usually tripled in election years as parties campaign for votes, so Thursday’s ruling is a blow for an already disorganized opposition ahead of the vote expected this summer.

The court is also considering a ban on the party, currently the third-biggest in parliament.