It is an ordinary picture in Turkey: water cannons against freedom of the press.

Russian Foreign Ministry Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, Konstantin Dolgov, tweeted the aforesaid criticizing the Turkish authorities’ actions against Zaman daily newspaper of Turkey.

“Will criticism sound against Ankara at the Turkey-EU summit?” Dolgov asked, reported TASS news agency of Russia. “Or will conjuncture be a priority?

On the night of March 5, the Turkish police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the spontaneous demonstration outside Zaman headquarters in Istanbul.

Hundreds of Zaman readers were taking part in this protest against an Istanbul court decision to place Zaman under the management of trustees.

The paper’s journalists, however, believe that as a result, Zaman will no longer be published.

The police had entered the Zaman editorial office and forced all staff members out.