"We are witnessing that some leaders in the European Union are also trying to exploit the situation in Turkey, especially in relation to the Turkish aspirations to join the European Union… And of course it is unacceptable and unnecessary to take seriously the statements made by EU leaders and some politicians concerning this situation. And it may be a sign of double standards…," Yardim told Rossiya 24 TV channel in an interview.
He said that some countries regarding themselves as bearers of universal democratic values are facing Nazism, fascism and radicalism thriving there. Yardim also dismissed EU criticism of measures taken by Turkey after the attempted coup.
"It is interesting to know how those people believing that they are allegedly protecting democracy and its values would act if their parliaments were bombed and if there was an attempt to assassinate their president," Yardim said.
On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey that was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed and more than 2,100 injured excluding the victims among the coup plotters, according to the country's authorities. Ankara has accused US-based dissident Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers of playing a key role in the coup.
After the attempted coup Turkey took a number of harsh measures having arrested more than 13,000 people. These steps were criticized by some EU countries that accused Turkey of violating human rights and democratic values.
