ANKARA (Sputnik) — The verdict of Turkey’s Izmir court on US pastor Andrew Brunson has proved independence of the country’s judiciary, Turkish presidential administration’s spokesman Fahrettin Altun said Friday.
«This decision showed that Turkey is a constitutional state. We want to remind once again US President Donald Trump that the Turkish court is independent. The Republic of Turkey, like its court, will not accept any instructions from any agencies, authorities or people,» Altun said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, the Izmir court sentenced Brunson to three years, one month and 15 days in prison but released him from house arrest, counting the time already served, which means he will not have to serve more time in custody.
