Stating that Demirtas’s official candidacy constitutionally necessitates active participation in the election period, his lawyers appealed to the Ankara 19th High Criminal Court on May 15 demanding his release, stating that Turkey’s constitution and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) legislation stipulates the “right to a free election.”

“Our appeal for release today is not a particular demand for Demirtas’s individual freedom. This demand is the demand of millions of voters who support him. These millions want Demirtas to be in the field with them, living the election period with them,” lawyer Mahsuni Karaman said on May 15 in front of the Ankara court, Hurriyet daily reported.

Demirtas was arrested in November 2016 and has been in prison ever since on a raft of charges including “leading a terrorist organization.” The first hearing of that case was held in December 2017 and he has appeared in the dock three times.

In the court’s interim ruling on April 13 it ruled for the continuation of his arrest throughout the trial period. The fourth hearing will be held on July 18.

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