European Parliament unanimously denounces the abductions of Turkish educators by the Erdoğan regime

ABDUCTED EDUCATORS ON EP AGENDA EP considers Ankara’s alleged operations as 'abduction' Moldova, Georgia, and Kosovo strongly condemned EP: ‘Resist the pressure of Erdogan regime’ ‘EU institutions shall support countries that resist Ankara’s pressure’ KOSOVO QUESTIONING THE KIDNAPPING SCANDAL President Hashim Thaci to testify The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Relations has described the illegal operations of Erdogan regime, which target individuals affiliated the Hizmet movement abroad, as “abduction” and has sharply denounced countries that have not taken necessary measures. Unanimously approved by the Parliament, the report has, in very strong terms, condemned the abduction of Turkish citizens allegedly linked to the movement and their deportation to Turkey as a violation of the most basic human rights and the rule of law. In the report, Moldovan, Georgian and Kosovo authorities are once again called upon to process the extradition requests in a transparent manner and to follow the judicial procedures in accordance with European principles and standards. The report has also invited EU institutions to support the countries that resist Ankara’s pressure, as the signatory MEPs have stated their concerns about the pressure exerted by the Turkish government on educational institutions and Turkish nationals in those countries. In a related development, the investigative commission established on the abduction of six Turkish citizens from Kosovo has started to work in Kosovo's Parliament. The Chief Police Inspector Miradije Kelmendi comes first on the list of 20 people to be questioned, while President Hashim Thaci is also expected to testify on the incident in the following days. After it was revealed that Turkish and Kosovar intelligence agencies had cooperated in the kidnapping of a physician and five educators on March 29, Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj had said that he was uninformed of the arrests and deportation of six Turkish citizens. Following an emergency meeting with his national security council, Haradinaj had later dismissed the Minister of Internal Affairs Flamur Sefaj and the Director of Intelligence Agency Driton Gashi over their involvement in the operation.   / 30plustv     / 30plustv