ANKARA, August 8. /TASS/. The West uses double standards and treats Turkey with prejudice, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman ahead of his visit to Russia.

"For some reason the West is using double standards and hints at Turkey’s attempts to change its secular nature. But this is not true," Erdogan said. "One should not treat Turkey with prejudice. The same processes that exist in the European society, also happen inside the Turkish society," he added.

The Turkish president noted that "when it comes to respecting and ensuring democratic rights and freedoms, there can be no comparison between Turkey and European Union member countries.".