New details have emerged regarding the case involving Turkish fashion designer Barbaros Şansal. 

Şansal had planned to head for the Azerbaijan capital city of Baku from the Turkish sector of Cyprus via Istanbul, and he already had purchased the respective plane ticket, according to Haber Planet news website.

“Journalists, as much as children being exposed to violence, are arrested [in Turkey],” the fashion designer had said in a video. “There is corruption is everywhere. And, along with this, you celebrate New Year? I don’t celebrate [it]. Now, I’ll drink all the alcohol in my bar. I’ll transfer all my money to Switzerland; I’ll give no cent to you. And you continue to celebrate under the conditions of this horror, suffering. Turkey, get drowned in your own dirt!”

Barbaros Şansal was detained in Northern Cyprus and sent to Istanbul, where he was handed over to police.  

The fashion designer, however, was attacked by “outraged citizens,” already on board the plane. In addition, some people attempted to beat him near the airstair.