Activists hung a doll of the Turkish president by his feet in the Swedish capital. Turkey has been blocking Sweden and Finland from joining NATO for months.
After a controversial protest with an Erdogan doll hanging in Stockholm, the Swedish public prosecutor will not investigate the matter for the time being. Stockholm Public Prosecutor Lucas Eriksson confirmed on Monday that he had decided not to launch preliminary investigations.
He had previously told the Aftonbladet newspaper that he did not think the action could amount to defamation. However, a review can be requested.
Turkey blocks Sweden from joining NATO
Turkey has been blocking Sweden and Finland from joining NATO for months. A protest near Stockholm City Hall last week sparked new disputes: activists hung a doll resembling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at his feet. They belonged to a Swedish organization calling itself “a network of solidarity and exchange with the revolutionary movement across Kurdistan”. The Turkish government reacted angrily, recalling the Swedish ambassador and canceling a visit by the Swedish spokesman to Ankara.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also condemned the move. On NATO membership, he said at a press conference with EU Council President Charles Michel in Stockholm on Monday that he was still very convinced that Sweden would become a NATO member “sooner or later”. He didn’t want to speculate on the exact time.
(APA/dpa)