Turkish Court of Appeals publicized decision on Dink's case

YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. The Court of Appeals of Turkey has made a decision to reverse the point of the judgment of the 14th High Criminal Court dated to January 17, 2012, according to which there is no "armed terrorist organization" behind Hrant Dink's murder. Taking into consideration today's decision of the Turkish Court of Appeals, Hrant Dink's case will be supposedlysent to the 14th High Criminal Court of Istanbul for revision.

In accordance with the decision of the 9th Penal Department of the Turkish Court of Appeals the suspects in Hrant Dink's case are not members of an "armed terrorist organization", but they are members of an "organization created with felony intent".

As reports "Armenpress" citing "Anadolu" news agency, the Ninth Penal Department of the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals upheld the aggravated life in prison sentence handed to Yasin Hayal for "masterminding and inciting" murder of Hrant Dink while it reversed the court decision to acquit Hayal for "leading an armed terrorist organization", requesting punishment of Hayal for "founding and leading an organization with felony intent".

Previously, Hrant Dink’s family lawyer Fethiye Çetin stated that they want the court to change the previous decision and qualify Dink's murder as an organized crime. Among other things Fethiye Çetin underscored that at the same time they want the court to revise the decision regarding Erhan Tuncel, whom the Turkish justice found not guilty and set free.

6 years have passed after the assassination of prominent Armenian journalist from Istanbul, chief editor of "Agos" weekly Hrant Dink. Hrant Dink was shot dead in Shishli district of Istanbul on January 19, 2007. After leaving the murder shouted "giaour" giving basis for suspicion that the murder was committed based on nationalist hatred. Dink was one of those intellectuals, famous for their fearless speeches being numerously persecuted for that.