Ankara hasn’t extended accreditation for nearly 80 foreign presses, including 3 German journalists, and according to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is a restriction on freedom of speech, reports the German Channel.

Spokeswoman of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Adebar has strictly criticized Ankara. “In our opinion, freedom of press is a supreme value, and German and other European journalists need to have the opportunity to work in Turkey. We hope these journalists receive accreditation certificates in the nearest future,” the German MFA representative stressed.

However, Turkey’s official position is clear-cut. The office of Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan has refused accreditation for German presses for the year 2019.

The Turkish government’s decision can lead to serious consequences for journalists. As a rule, a valid accreditation certificate is not only a work permit, but a unique form of residency for a journalist in the particular country.