ZEYNEP KAYA
The retrial of 15 public officials accused of involvement in the murder of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of Agos newspaper, has been postponed for the defendants' final statements. The trial, held at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court, follows a ruling by the Court of Cassation that overturned a previous verdict.
The defendants, seven of whom are currently in detention, appeared at the eighth hearing via video link (SEGBİS) from various locations. Among the accused are several high-ranking officials from the Istanbul and Trabzon Gendarmerie and Police Intelligence Units. Notably, Faruk Sarı, the former head of the Trabzon Police Intelligence Department, remains a fugitive.
One of the key figures in the trial, former Istanbul Gendarmerie Intelligence officer Muharrem Demirkale, refused to present his defense via SEGBİS, insisting on delivering it in person. "I am innocent, and I want to look you in the eyes as I defend myself," he said. Despite his objections, the court rejected his request. His lawyer echoed the demand, referencing Constitutional Court rulings on defendants' rights to be physically present during trials.
Yavuz Karakaya, another detained defendant and a former sergeant with Istanbul’s Gendarmerie Intelligence, began his defense with a verse from the Quran and expressed sympathy for Dink’s widow, Rakel Dink. "I share Rakel Dink’s pain and agree with her words about the darkness that creates killers from babies. I, too, am a victim of this darkness," Karakaya stated, denying any involvement in the crime. He claimed the accusations were based on fabricated evidence and implicated the Istanbul Anti-Terror Police Department in creating false documents against him.
Karakaya also pointed to inconsistencies in the testimony of Ogün Samast, the confessed gunman, who had implicated Karakaya and others. He argued that Samast's statements were unreliable and that there was no direct evidence linking him to the murder.
After a brief recess, the court ruled that the defendants’ detention and judicial control measures would continue. The trial was adjourned to January 10, 2025, when the final statements will be heard.
Background on the Hrant Dink case
Hrant Dink, a prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist, was assassinated outside his office in Istanbul in January 2007. His murder shocked the nation and led to widespread protests. Dink had long been a target of ultranationalist groups for his outspoken views on Armenian identity and the 1915 genocide.
The investigation into his killing uncovered alleged negligence and complicity by various public officials. The current trial focuses on officials from both the Istanbul and Trabzon police and gendarmerie forces, who are accused of failing to prevent the murder despite having prior intelligence and of falsifying documents to cover up their role.
The initial trial, which began in 2016, concluded in 2021 with several public officials being sentenced to prison, while others were acquitted. However, the Court of Cassation overturned parts of the ruling in June 2023, leading to the ongoing retrial.
The case remains a significant moment in Turkey's struggle with press freedom, minority rights, and the rule of law.
