(CNN) A Turkish court has sentenced 14 employees of a newspaper that has been critical of President Tayyip Recep Erdogan's government to prison, convicting them on 'terrorism' charges. The lengthy sentences have added to increasing fears over press freedom, particularly with national elections taking place in June. "These politically motivated sentences are clearly intended to instill fear and silence any form of dissent," said Milena Buyum , Amnesty International's Turkey campaigner. Journalists remain defiantDespite the crackdown Cumhuriyet didn't let up in its scrutiny of Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party. The trial of two other Cumhuriyet journalists will continue separately.

Source: CNN April 26, 2018 06:00 UTC