(Washington, D.C.) — Turkish Democracy Project (TDP) CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace released the following statement today following an announcement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about his plans to take over parts of Varosha—in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789.

“This move reflects Erdogan’s pattern of malign behavior and TDP welcomes the commitment outlined today by U.S. Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland to urge a reversal of this decision and work with other members of the UN Security Council. President Erdogan has transformed Turkey from a responsible NATO ally with a growing economy to a nation allied with Russia that is teetering on the edge of being regarded as a declining, undemocratic and hostile power to U.S. and European security.

“TDP has also been targeted by sympathizers of the Erdogan regime using criminal actions to spread fear and intimidation. We renew our call for the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI to investigate a cyberattack targeting our organization and death threats received by American and Turkish citizens. Second, TDP calls upon the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to investigate the Grey Wolves, a far-right group aligned with President Erdogan. Cybersecurity experts believe individuals aligned with the Grey Wolves are responsible for the attacks. And third, TDP urges Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to impose sanctions on the group by adding them to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN) immediately.

“President Erdogan consistently demonstrates that he is an autocrat with undemocratic designs on his homeland and the region. He has brutally repressed dissent inside Turkey and critics of his undemocratic rule abroad in the U.S. and Europe. TDP applauds the bipartisan condemnation of Turkish aggression by members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and supports their determination that any attempt to support the resettlement of Varosha should be met with more economic sanctions against Ankara.”