Expert Aykan Erdemir joins The Greek Current to look into the latest decision by a US appeals court to put the federal government's prosecution of Turkish state-owned lender Halkbank on hold while the bank appeals to the US Supreme Court. Aykan Erdemir also explains why this decision is a win for Turkish President Erdogan in his continued attempts to delay a potentially embarrassing jury trial.
Late last week a US appeals court put the federal government's prosecution of Turkish state-owned lender Halkbank on hold while the bank appeals to the US Supreme Court. This decision means Halkbank can appeal without having to defend itself in a Manhattan federal court for its alleged role in helping Iran evade US sanctions. Halkank is accused of helping Iran secretly transfer $20 billion of restricted funds, including $1 billion laundered through the US financial system, and converting oil revenue into gold and then cash to benefit Iranian interests. Expert Aykan Erdemir joins The Greek Current to look into this latest development and explain why this decision is a win for Turkish President Erdogan in his continued attempts to delay a potentially embarrassing jury trial.
Dr. Aykan Erdemir is the senior director of the Turkey program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former Turkish lawmaker.
Read Aykan Erdemir’s latest policy brief for FDD here: Halkbank’s Supreme Court Appeal Will Delay Iran Sanctions-Evasion Case
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