HRANT DINK MUDER TRIAL

The international organization of Reporters without Borders (RSF) expressed their disappointment about the decisions that came out of the 15^th hearing of the Hrant Dink murder case on 25 October. In a press release, RSF pointed to the conviction of Turkey by the European Courts of Human Rights (ECHR) related to the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink and criticized the fact that it was not considered in the latest hearing in Istanbul.

"The delays, obstacles and setbacks still dogging this trial seem to indicate a continuing desire to shed as little light as possible on a case of national importance. Turkey seems not to have learned the lesson of the recent European Court of Human Rights ruling. It is this kind of behaviour that has led to its fall to 138th position in the latest Reporters Without Borders press freedom index", RSF stated.

ECHR decision not finalized yet...

Also after the ECHR decision, the Istanbul 14^th High Criminal Court rejected the request to merge the case in Istanbul with the file tried in Trabzon where seven gendarmerie officers stand accused of neglect of duty. The court reasoned its decision saying that "the ECHR decision has not been finalized yet".

A total of 15 hearings have been held within the past four years in the scope of the case tried before the Magistrate Criminal Court of Trabzon (eastern Black Sea Coast). Additionally, another case was recently opened at the Trabzon 1^st High Criminal Court against former Gendarmerie Regiment Commander Colonel Ali Öz under charges of "neglect of duty". (EÖ/VK)

Click here for the full statement of the RSF.