Kristersson Engages Intensively with Turkey
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Kristersson Engages Intensively with Turkey for Journalist's Release

The Government is pushing Turkey to bring home the imprisoned Swedish journalist Joakim Medin – but it's tough, says Ulf Kristersson (The Moderate Party) on his way into SVT's party leader debate.

I don't think it benefits his case to outline every move we make, but there are intense contacts with Turkey in various ways, says Kristersson.

His message to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is "very clear":

We want to get him home. It's only Turkey that can make Turkish decisions, but we stand behind the importance of journalistic freedom and that work.

He says the government is careful not to "complicate" or "worsen" anything.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has very close contacts. I really hope we succeed, but these are difficult matters. I think everyone understands that.

Joakim Medin was arrested at the airport in Istanbul, when he traveled there to cover ongoing and large-scale protests against the country's government. According to his defenders, he risks up to twelve years in prison in the worst case.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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