FM calls Turkish jailing of Czechs for YPG membership ‘great disappointment’
Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek called Wednesday’s judgment “a great disappointment to me” in a ministry statement.
Czech TV reported Czech nationals Miroslav Farkas and Marketa Vselichova each received prison sentences in Turkey of six years and three months for “cooperating with the YPG.”
The two reportedly maintained that they are humanitarian activists wanting to establish a field hospital.
In Syria, YPG forces are a main ground component in the US-led global coalition to defeat ISIS of which the Czech Republic is a partner.
Marketa Vselichova and Miroslav Farkas. Photo: YPG media
“Notwithstanding this, there is now a need to do the utmost to have the matter properly reviewed by the Court of Appeal. I firmly believe that the higher instance court will evaluate the matter differently,” stated Zaoralek.
Zaoralek added that the Czech embassy in Ankara “will be playing an active role as an intermediary both towards the families of both Czech citizens in the Czech Republic and in relation to the Turkish authorities.”
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported in November 2016 that Farkas, whose Kurdish YPG alias is Serxwebun Botan, and Vselichova, known as Zelane Botan, were first detained by Turkish authorities detained at the Habur border gate near Sirnak in Turkey after illegally crossing from Syria.
Turkey regards the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that has waged a three-decade-long guerrilla fight against the Turkish government. The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
YPG denies it has any organic links with the PKK.
The YPG is currently battling to liberate Raqqa from ISIS. Over the past month two Americans, one Georgian and a Briton have died volunteering with the group.