German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a rise in authoritarian tendencies, citing a number of countries around the world including Turkey, Deutsche Welle Turkish service reported on Friday.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, Maas said the pandemic has had dramatic consequences for human rights, with countries using the public health emergency to undermine the rule of law.
He mentioned pressures against journalism, citing intimidation of journalists in Turkey, along with Russia, Venezuela, Iran and China.