Justice Minister: US Criminal Case Against Halkbank 'Political Blackmail'

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The criminal case brought against the state-owned Halkbank in the US is "clearly not judicial but political," according to Abdülhamit Gül, the Minister of Justice.

Gül said that charges were filed against the bank "in a period when embargoes and sanctions against Turkey are being discussed," in a speech at an event in İzmir province.

US prosecutors on Tuesday (October 15) charged Halkbank with six offenses including banking fraud and money laundering, alleging that the bank took part in a scheme to evade the US sanctions against Iran.

The charges being filed after Turkey launched a military operation into northern Syria "clearly shows that it has a political rather than judicial basis," Gül remarked. "It can be considered a matter of political blackmail."

"Previously, we all followed the Hakan Atilla case which was filed with unlawful evidence," Gül said, referring to a lawsuit against Halkbank's former deputy general manager.

"Both in terms of conjuncture and timing, we can clearly say that this does not have a judicial basis," the minister asserted.

He added that it is "unacceptable to use the law as a basis for political ideas" about imposing sanctions on Turkey. (RT/VK)