Talks between Turkey and Sweden about Sweden’s NATO membership will continue next week. Turkey has many times demanded that Sweden act against “terrorists”.
In Sweden, the charges have been read today against a man who is suspected of collecting money for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the PKK.
According to the prosecutor the man has tried to finance terrorism and is guilty of aggravated extortion. Based on the investigation, the man worked for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, PKK.
The investigation started in January after a shooting in Stockholm. A man in his 40s threatened the bartender of the sports bar with a gun and demanded money in the name of the PKK.
This is the first time that a charge of financing the PKK has been brought in Sweden.
Spoke to Swedish TV prosecutor Hans Ihrmann estimates that fundraising is part of a broader and longer-term activity.
“Can help with NATO ratification”
Sweden’s former ambassador to Turkey Michael Sahl says Swedish radio, that the trial is a positive thing in terms of Sweden’s NATO process. According to him, the lawsuit will probably be seen in Turkey as an example of how Sweden applies its new terrorism legislation.
Countless times, Turkey has demanded action against, among other things, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the PKK, as a condition for the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously made demands for the extradition of more than 100 “terrorists”. He has also named at least one extradited person, a journalist Bülent Kenesin.
Recently, Turkey has not talked about large-scale handovers as a condition for Sweden’s NATO membership.
Negotiations between Sweden and Turkey continue
The Supreme Court of Sweden decided last week, that a man who describes himself as a PKK supporter can be extradited. However, the basis is the man’s conviction for drug crimes.
in Turkish government media the man has been characterized as a common criminal who only claims to be a supporter of the PKK in order to avoid extradition.
Turkish and Swedish officials will discuss Sweden’s NATO membership again next week. The meeting is part of the communication agreed at the NATO summit in Madrid last summer. Finland is also scheduled to participate in the consultation.