The US has threatened Turkey with sanctions

If Ankara will not loose by pastor Andrew Brunson, Washington is willing to go on serious sanctions against Turkey.

The United States has threatened NATO ally Turkey with sanctions because of the American pastor detained by Turkey on charges of terrorism and espionage.

Vice-President Mike Pence said that if Turkey will not take immediate action to release Andrew Craig Brunson, the United States will impose on Turkey substantial sanctions.

50-year-old Brunson, a Christian pastor-Evangelist from North Carolina, July 26, was released under house arrest “because of health problems” after 21 months behind bars.

“Branson is an innocent man, there is no reliable evidence against him,” said Pence.

President Donald trump has repeatedly demanded the release of Brunson said on Twitter last week that the arrest of the pastor was “a complete disgrace”.

If Branson is convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison for “committing crimes on behalf of terrorist groups without being a member.” He can get another 20 years if convicted of espionage.

Brunson strongly denies the allegations. The case was postponed to 12 October.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to release the detained pastor of the United States in exchange for the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of the failed military coup of 2016.

Gulen, who denies the organization of the attempted coup, lives in Pennsylvania. Requests from Turkey for his arrest and extradition were not satisfied.

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