27 February 2018•Update: 28 February 2018
By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu
ANKARA
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag slammed a Czech court's decision Tuesday to allow former PYD/PKK terror group co-leader Salih Muslum to walk free.
"The decision will affect [Turkey's] relations with the Czech Republic," Bozdag told journalists in capital Ankara.
The deputy premier also said the court ruling was against international law.
"This decision is a clear support to terrorism. This is a political decision which cannot be explained in terms of law ... This decision supports terrorist acts against Turkey," Bozdag said.
Muslum was detained on Sunday in Prague after Turkey called on the Czech Republic for the arrest of the former co-leader of the terrorist group.
Bozdag said the court ruling did not come as a surprise to Turkey.
"Because the stance of EU member states on Turkey and on the people who have carried out terrorist acts against Turkey is obvious," he said.
Speaking to journalists in the parliament, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul called on the Czech Republic to correct its mistake of releasing Muslum.
"The decision of Czech jurisdiction came out as against [international] conventions and laws," Gul said.
"We will wait for our counterparts to correct this mistake as soon as possible."
The justice minister highlighted that Turkey would continue its legal struggle against all terrorists who threaten Turkey.
"Turkish justice will be hot on their trail," he said.
The Turkish Interior Ministry had offered a bounty of nearly $1 million Muslum who is listed as a most wanted terrorist.
Muslum is being sought on charges of disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state, homicide, attempted homicide, damaging public property, and transporting hazardous substances.
The PYD/PKK is a Syrian offshoot of the PKK which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. the EU.
