Nevşehir Mayor Rasim Arı defends Turkish sovereignty in Strasbourg

During the 51st General Assembly of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, Nevşehir Mayor Rasim Arı addressed the international community regarding Turkey's sovereignty and legal independence.

Representing Nevşehir and Cappadocia under the theme of strengthening tourism and local governments, Arı criticized the practice of turning Turkey's internal legal processes into political debates on international platforms. He asserted that Turkey is an independent state governed by the rule of law and argued that making premature judgments on ongoing legal matters undermines confidence in the independence of justice.

Arı emphasized that while Turkey is open to international cooperation and criticism, such engagement must be based on legal facts, concrete information, and mutual dialogue rather than interference in domestic affairs. He specifically reacted to attempts to pressure the Turkish Ministry of Justice through international calls for sanctions, stating that sovereignty rights must not be disregarded under the guise of the rule of law.