The release of two prominent Turkish journalists following a ruling by Turkey's top court that their rights had been violated is a “clear defeat" for President Tayyip Erdogan, one of them said yesterday.

Can Dundar, the editor-in-chief of opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet, and his colleague Erdem Gul were freed on Friday after a ruling from the constitutional court. Erdogan has said he does not respect the court's decision.

The two journalists,

who still face trial and potential life sentences, were arrested in November and charged with intentionally aiding an armed terrorist organisation and publishing material in violation of state security.

Their detention drew international condemnation and raised concerns about media freedom in Turkey, which aspires to

join the European Union.

Cumhuriyet infuriated Erdogan last year after it published photos, videos and a report it said showed intelligence officials trucking arms to Syria in 2014.

Erdogan cast the newspaper's coverage as part of an attempt to undermine Turkey's global standing and has said the case is not about press freedom but about espionage.

"Erdogan is having trouble accepting the ruling because this was a clear defeat for him. We have a president who is not accustomed to defeat," Dundar said at a

news conference.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said yesterday it would be wrong to let the constitutional court's decision to free two journalists, who are facing life in prison on charges of aiding a terrorist organisation, affect their trial.