French delegation detained in Turkey during election

CAIRO – 25 June 2018: The French Communist Party said Sunday a delegation from its party, including a senator, which was in Turkey to observe the elections, has been released after being detained by Turkish authorities, ABC News reported.

PCF National Secretary Pierre Laurent said on BFM Television that the three-person delegation, which included Cotes-d'Armor Senator Christine Prunaud, was freed in Agri Sunday afternoon after French authorities intervened.

In a statement of condemnation following the Sunday morning arrests, the PCF accused the Turkish government of wanting "to stifle all voices denouncing the massive fraud at work."

It said that Turkish authorities went to Twitter to accuse their delegation of being "false observers."

The delegation was in Turkey to observe Sunday's presidential and parliamentary elections.