HDP remains defiant on Russia policy, as Turkish PM zealously attacks

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has continued firing salvoes at both Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), by suggesting these opposition parties purposefully display solidarity with countries whose relations have deteriorated with Ankara, while HDP's co-leader Selahattin Demirta?, main target of the prime minister's salvoes, has remained defiant and argued opposition parties do not have to approve all the government's policies.

"While the CHP didn't remember Syria and Egypt earlier when we had good relations; when our relations deteriorated because these countries didn't respect the democratic rights of their own peoples, [these parties] displayed solidarity by sending delegations to these countries' administrations" Davuto?lu said on Dec. 25.

"And now, following the airplane crisis, without losing time, the HDP went to display solidarity with Russia and attempted to criticize us from Moscow. He [Demirta?] saidpy he recognized Russia's thesis and that Turkey did wrong by fulfilling the requirement of its sovereign right," he said, delivering a speech at a meeting hosted by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (T?M) for promotion of the "Turkey" brand.

A day before, the prime minister accused Demirta? of treason for using a trip to Moscow to condemn Ankara's shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syria. 

Demirta? met Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Dec. 23 and criticized Ankara for shooting down the warplane near the border with Syria last month. Moscow denies it had entered Turkish airspace. 

Upon his return from Moscow late on Dec. 24, Demirta? underlined that his visit to the Russian capital was planned long ago before the crisis.

"Let them tell just one benefit...