Mustafa Balbay released

Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court on Monday gave the ruling for the release of journalist and Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Mustafa Balbay, detained under the Ergenekon case. Turkish Constiutional Court has completed the draft of the reasoned desicion concerning the individual application of CHP deputies Mustafa Balbay and Mehmet Haberal and is expected to send it to the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court on Tuesday.  The Constitutional Court on December 4 concluded its decision on the individual applications of Balbay and Haberal and justified their application as their detentions exceeded the reasonable duration and their rights to stand for election were violated. The Supreme Court then decided on a TRY5,000 compensation to be paid to Balbay due to his 'long-detention'. Following the decision of Constitutional Court the attorneys of Balbay applied for his release. CHP Depuy Chairman Akif Hamzacebi reported that Balbay would swear in Turkish National Assembly on Tuesday's parliamentary session

Mustafa Balbay has been in prison more than 4 years. The case began in 2007 with the discovery of 27 hand grenades in a house in Istanbul. Some of the country’s most prominent figures including former Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug was detained and arrested, Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies Mehmet Haberal and Mustafa Balbay and journalists, high-ranking military officials, have been jailed since then.