Turkish PM blasts court ruling to lift Twitter banApril 4, 2014 - 12:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, April 4, criticized a Constitutional Court ruling that lifted his government's ban on Twitter, according to AFP. "We are of course bound by the Constitutional Court verdict, but I don't have to respect it," said the PM, a day after the U.S.-based social media site went live again in Turkey. "I don't respect this ruling." Erdogan's government has been rattled by the twin crises of street protests since last June and, since December, a torrent of online leaks on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube which appeared to implicate the premier's inner circle in corruption. YouTube remains banned since it was also used to leak an audio recording that was purportedly of a conversation of top government, military and spy officials weighing possible military action inside neighboring war-torn Syria. Erdogan said on the Twitter case, that "the Constitutional Court should have rejected" the application to lift the block on the site which had been brought by an opposition lawmaker and two academics. "All our national, moral values have been put aside," he said about the spate of anonymously posted recordings. "Insults to a country's prime minister and ministers are all around." The Internet crackdown has sparked protests from Turkey's NATO allies and human rights groups, who have deplored it as curbing the right to free speech -- a notion Erdogan dismissed. "This is a commercial company which has a product," he said of the San Francisco-based micro-blogging service. "It is not only Twitter. YouTube and Facebook are also commercial companies. It is everyone's free will whether or not to buy their product. This has nothing to do with freedoms." Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |