Turkey cannot hide limitations of freedom of speech from EU: Safrastyan

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Turkey was always famous for the limitations of freedom of speech. In a conversation with "Armenpress" the Director of Institute of Oriental Sciences of the National Academy of the Republic of Armenia, turkologist Ruben Safrastyan stated this and recalled that there are more than 100 journalists imprisoned in Turkey because of the limitations of freedom of speech. Turkish journalist Temel Demirer also suffered because of these limitations and his legal procedure goes on for already 4 years. Safrastyan stated: "There are more than dozen of publishers in the Turkish prisons. So we can say that limitation of freedom of speech is a "normal" phenomenon in Turkey."

In Safrastyan's opinion mass media is under a huge pressure in Turkey. Notwithstanding this is not the sole problem of Turkey. This country that wants to become a EU member state is always being criticized by the public organizations and activists. The turkologist underscored: "This factor has been emphasized by the European countries many times. But the fact that these circumstances are mentioned in official documents is of a certain importance."

Turkish human rights activist and publisher Ragip Zarakolu has also faced such problems for his activity in Turkey. Zarakolu regularly voiced the problems of the Armenians and spoke about the Armenian Genocide. It has already been 4 years since Turkish journalist Temel Demirer's legal procedure is in process. He is accused of humiliation of the Turkish identity in accordance with the infamous 301 article of Turkish criminal code.