Turkish PM Binali Yildirim on June 16 called on opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu to end the 425-kilometre (265-mile) Ankara to Istanbul "march for justice" which began on June 15 in protest at the jailing of lawmaker and journalist Enis Berberoglu.

Thousands gathered for the start of the march, called after Berberoglu, a former editor-in-chief of Hurriyet, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on spying charges in connection with the leaking of a video to media which was said to show the smuggling of weapons to Syria. The march will end at the prison in the capital where Berberoglu has been incarcerated.

“Justice cannot be sought in the streets, parliament is the right venue to seek justice,” Yildirim told reporters in Ankara.

“Why is he torturing himself? He can take the high-speed train [to Istanbul],” Yildirim added, mocking Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kilicdaroglu's chosen form of protest.

“Taking to the streets is an irresponsible attitude, provocations cannot be ruled out but we have taken all precautions”, the prime minister said. “I advise him to end this now,” he added.

Yildirim contended that Kilicdaroglu was last year well aware that MPs would have to face the possibility of a criminal justice trial when the opposition party voted in favour of lifting lawmakers’ immunity.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, too, slammed Kilicdaroglu by labelling his protest as “an attempt at influencing the judicial process”.

“Statements made by Kilicdaroglu that target members of judiciary and go beyond the limits of criticism are alarming,” Bozdag said.

“Turkey is a state of law and its courts are independent. Attempts at influencing a court decision amount to a crime,” he added.

Kilicdaroglu claimed that the CHP lawmaker was arrested without any credible evidence and added that the party won’t accept the sentence handed to Berberoglu.