The Alliance of Conservatives & Reformists in Europe (ACRE), has called for the immediate release of former President, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The ACRE has also said that this is the way to ensure that fair and independent Parliamentary elections takes place.

ACRE is a political party in the European Parliament that has been critical of the European Union policies and of the geopolitical entity itself.

In a statement released by ACRE yesterday, the party reiterated that the detention of former President Abdulla Yameen has been carried out at a time where PPM candidates are submitting forms to run in Parliamentary elections. President Yameen was the official leadership of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) before his recent detention.

ACRE noted that in addition to the party, the European Party of the British Conservatives, Poland’s Law & Justice Party and 40 other national parties, have expressed concern over President Yameen’s detention.

The statement reiterated that carrying out such an act right before an election exerts an influence on PPM campaign efforts.

ACRE has also called on the European Union to investigate President Yameen’s detention immediately.

President Yameen had been taken into Police custody and transferred to Maafushi prison on 18 February 2019 straight from the court after Criminal Court hearing on charges of money laundering. President Yameen had been sentenced to remain in detention until for the remainder of his trial.