On Monday, December 19, the Supreme Court of Sweden refused to extradite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish journalist, editor-in-chief of Today's Zaman, Bulent Kenesh, who is accused in Turkey of involvement in the 2016 rebellion. The issuance of the Kenesh was one of the conditions for Sweden's entry into NATO. The denial of extradition is reported by the Associated Press.
The Supreme Court said in a statement that there is a risk of persecution of Kenesh based on his political views if he is returned to Turkey.
The 55-year-old journalist received asylum in Sweden. He welcomed the court's decision but insists that he is not considered a suspect.
“Of course, I am happy, the decision was expected. I am not entirely satisfied because they say that I am suspected of crimes in Turkey. I didn't commit any crime at all. These accusations are completely fabricated by the Erdogan regime.”
He stated that Erdogan will continue to try to abuse the legal system.
Previously, Kenesh spoke in The Insider about how journalists are persecuted in Turkey, as well as what are the similarities and differences between the regimes of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin. In addition, the journalist explained how he turned out to be a bargaining chip in the negotiations between Turkey and Sweden on NATO membership.
Turkish journalist Bulent Kenesh was arrested in October 2015 for insulting Erdogan and was sentenced to 21 months in prison for criticizing the president on Twitter. Later, he was again arrested along with 46 other former employees of the newspaper, they fell under a wave of repression in 2016. Erdogan personally sought the extradition of Kenesh from Sweden, at a meeting with the Prime Minister of Sweden, he actually called the extradition of a journalist a condition for ratifying the country's entry into NATO.