The European Union has voiced concern over a recent Turkish police raid on television stations linked to US-based cleric and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s arch-foe Fethullah Gulen.

In a press briefing in Brussels on Wednesday, Catherine Ray, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, described as “worrying” the police raid on television stations belonging to the Koza-Ipek Group, a conglomerate linked to Gulen.

“The situation concerning Kozi-Ipek (is) worrying. We continue to follow the situation very closely,” media outlets quoted Ray as saying, adding, “We want to reiterate the importance of respect of the rule of law and media freedom.”

Ray also urged Ankara to respect media freedom just ahead of planned polls in the country, stressing that “we expect this election to be in line with international and democratic standards.”

The remarks come after police raided the Bugun and Kanalturk stations in the city of Istanbul on Wednesday morning, taking on their entrances with chainsaws and prompting brawls.

Reacting to the police move, Bugun’s editor-in-chief, Tarik Toros, said, “This is an operation to silence all the dissident voices that the ruling party does not like, including media outlets, opposition parties and businessmen. This is true for anyone who does not obey.”

On Monday, a Turkish court appointed a pro-government board of trustees to manage Koza-Ipek Group after seizing its 21 companies. Koza-Ipek’s businesses include media, energy and construction.

Political opponents say the move comes as part of Ankara’s crackdown on followers of Gulen, who is regarded as an outspoken opponent of Erdogan and his policies.

Erdogan has accused Gulen and his followers of plotting to overthrow the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), a charge Gulen denies.

Hundreds of people, believed to be sympathizers of Gulen, many of them members of the police and the judiciary, have been arrested ahead of the November 1 snap elections, where the AKP seeks to restore its majority in the parliament.

The cleric, who left for the United States in 1999, is set to be tried in absentia on January 6.