The prosecution of public officials allegedly at fault in the murder of Hrant Dink began only 5 years after the 2010 judgement of the ECHR. The prosecution of state officials, whose responsibility was clearly demonstrated by the inspectorate reports and the report of the State Supervisory Board, was put on hold until the Government decided to use the Dink case for its political ambitions.
The first trial against state officials was the Trabzon gendarmerie officers’ trial in Trabzon in 2008. In this case 8 people including the provincial gendarmerie commander were put on trial. Istanbul Police officers, whose responsibilities were identified in the inspectorate reports but who were not authorised to be investigated, were only included in the investigation initiated in 2014.
The investigation initiated by Gökalp Kökçü, who is known for his arbitrary indictments far from the truth, also included former Department of Intelligence officers and Trabzon Police Department officers. On 15 December 2015, the case opened at Istanbul 14th Court of Assize was merged with the proceedings against Trabzon gendarmerie officers. After the 15 July coup attempt, with the additional indictment prepared, Istanbul Gendarmerie Command officers were also included in the trial.
Istanbul Police Department (3 persons)
Celalettin Cerrah Provincial Police Chief
- TPC 257/2 “Negligence of duty of a public official” Statute of limitations
Ahmet İlhan Güler Chief of Intelligence Branch
- TPC 83/1 and 83/2 ” intentional murder by negligent behaviour” Acquitted
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official” Statute of limitations
Metin Canbay Intelligence Branch officer
- His file has been severed.
EGM Directorate of Intelligence (13 persons)
Ramazan Akyürek Head of Department of Intelligence
- TPC 82/1-a ” Premediated murder” Aggravated life imprisonment
- TPC 205/1 “Destroying an official document”
5 years 7 months 15 daysAcquitted at Court of Appeal - TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents”
7 years 6 monthsAcquitted at Court of Appeal - TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official” Statute of limitations
Sabri Uzun Head of Department of Intelligence (before Akyürek)
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official” Statute of limitations
Ali Fuat Yılmazer Chief of C Branch
- TPC 82/1-a ” Premediated murder” Aggravated life imprisonment
- TPC 205/1 “Destroying an official document”
4 years 6 monthsAcquitted at Court of Appeal - TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official” Statute of limitations
Osman Gülbel C Branch Deputy Chief
- TPC 82/1-a ” Premediated murder” 16 years 8 months
Tamer Bülent Demirel C Branch Deputy Chief
- TPC 82/1-a ” Premediated murder” Acquitted
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Ali Poyraz C Branch Deputy Chief
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Hamdi Egbatan, Police officer at C Branch
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Coşgun Çakar Deputy Head of Department of Intelligence
- His file has been severed.
Yunus Yazar TEKOP Branch Chief
- His file has been severed.
Yılmaz Angın C-2 Bureau Chief at C Branch
- His file has been severed.
Mehmet Akif Yılmaz, Police officer at C Branch
- His file has been severed.
Ömer Faruk Kartın Police officer at C Branch
- His file was severed.
Serkan Şahan Police officer at C Branch
- His file has been severed.
Trabzon Police Department (11 persons)
Reşat Altay Provincial Police Chief
- TPC 83/1 and 83/2 ” intentional murder by negligent behaviour ” Acquitted
- TPC 205/1 “Destroying an official document” Acquitted
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Engin Dinç Intelligence Branch Chief
- TPC 83/1 and 83/2 ” intentional murder by negligent behaviour ” Acquitted
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Faruk Sarı Intelligence Branch Chief (after Dinç)
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”
12 years 6 monthsCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 205/1 “Destroying an official document”
3 years 9 monthsAcquitted at Court of Appeal
Hasan Durmuşoğlu Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Branch
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”
12 years 6 monthsCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 205/1 “Destroying an official document”
3 years 9 monthsAcquitted at Court of Appeal - TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Ercan Demir Superintendent at Intelligence Branch
- TPC 82/1-a “intentional murder” Acquitted
- TPC 205/1 “Destroying an official document” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
- TCK 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Muhittin Zenit Police Officer at Intelligence Branch
- TPC 82/1-a ” premediated murder” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
- TPC 205/1 “Destroying an official document” Acquitted
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Özkan Mumcu Lieutenant at Intelligence Branch
- TPC 82/1-a ” Premediated murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” 7 years 6 months
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Mehmet Ayhan Police Officer at Intelligence Branch
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”
12 years 6 monthsCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 314 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation”
Acquittedthe Court of Cassation overturned - TPC 205/1 “Destroying an official document”
3 years 9 monthsAcquitted at Court of Appeal
Onur Karakaya Police Officer at Intelligence Branch
- TPC 81/1 “intentional murder”
12 years 6 monthsCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 314 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 205/1 “Destruction of an official document”
3 years 9 monthsAcquitted at Court of Appeal
Mehmet Uçar Police Officer at Intelligence Branch
- TPC 83/1 and 83/2 ” intentional murder by negligent behaviour ” Acquitted
- TPC 205/1 “Destruction of an official document”
3 years 9 monthsAcquitted at Court of Appeal - TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Tevfik Cantürk Police Officer at Intelligence Branch
- TCK 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder” Acquitted
Trabzon Gendarmerie Command (14 persons)
Ali Öz Trabzon Gendarmerie Commander
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”
25 yearsCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents” 3 years 4 months
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official” Statute of limitations
- TPC 309 ” Overthrowing the constitutional order”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TCK 220 “Being a Member of an Organisation Established for the Purpose of Committing a Crime”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned
Metin Yıldız Intelligence Branch Chief
- TCK 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”Acquitted
- TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents” 3 years 4 months
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official” Statute of limitations
Gazi Günay Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ”
25 yearsCassation Court overturned - TPC 309 ” Overthrowing the constitutional order”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 314 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents” 3 years 4 months
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Okan Şimşek Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”
25 yearsCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 309 ” Overthrowing the constitutional order”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 314 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents” 3 years 4 months
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Veysal Şahin Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 81/1 “intentional murder “
25 yearsCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 309 ” Overthrowing the constitutional order”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 314 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation”
Acquittedthe Court of Cassation overturned - TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents” 3 years 4 months
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Volkan (Satılmış) Şahin Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder “
12 years 6 monthsCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Önder Araz Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
- TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents” 3 years 4 months
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Ahmet Faruk Aydoğdu Central Gendarmerie Command officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” 6 years 3 months
Cevat Eser Central Gendarmerie Command officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”Acquitted
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Ünsal Gürel Central Gendarmerie Command officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder” Acquitted
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Resul Kütükoğlu Central Gendarmerie Command officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”Acquitted
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Hüseyin Yılmaz Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”Acquitted
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
- TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents” Acquittal
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Ergün Yorulmaz Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder “Acquitted
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Hacı Ömer Ünalır Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 204/2 “Forgery of Official Documents” Acquitted
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official ” Statute of limitations
Istanbul Gendarmerie Command (18 persons)
Muharrem Demirkale Intelligence Unit Commander
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder”
Life imprisonmentCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order”
Life imprisonmentCourt of Cassation overturned
Ali Barış Sevindik Intelligence Branch Terrorist Incidents Section Chief
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TCK 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Abdullah Dinç Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” 6 years 3 months
Yavuz Karakaya Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order”
Life imprisonmentCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ”
12 years 6 monthsCourt of Cassation overturned
Bekir Yokuş Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation”
AcquittedCourt of Cassation overturned - TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ”
10 yearsCourt of Cassation overturned
Metehan Kadir Yıldırım Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Niyazi Malkoç Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Rahmi Özer Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Ecevit Emir Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Emre Cingöz Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Hacı Şefik Şimşek Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 “intentional murder” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Eyüp Temel Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 “intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Mikdat Özbek Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Mustafa Küçük Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 “intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Musa Yıldırım Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder ” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Yusuf Bozca Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Adnan Acar Metris Region gendarmerie officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 81/1 ” intentional murder” Acquitted
- TPC 314/2 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” Acquitted
Şeref Ateş Intelligence Branch officer
- He died on 11 March 2020. The cases against him were dismissed.
Samsun Gendarmerie Command (4 persons)
Atilla Güçlüoğlu Public Security Branch Chief
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 220 “Being a Member of an Organisation Established for the Purpose of Committing a Crime” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Birol Ustaoğlu Intelligence Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 220 “Being a Member of an Organisation Established for the Purpose of Committing a Crime” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Murat Bayrak Anti-Smuggling and Organised Crime Branch Chief
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 220 “Being a Member of an Organisation Established for the Purpose of Committing a Crime” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Yüksel Avan Public Security Branch officer
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 220 “Being a Member of an Organisation Established for the Purpose of Committing a Crime” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Samsun Police Department (3 persons)
Yakup Kurtaran General Security Branch Chief
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 220 “Being a Member of an Organisation Established for the Purpose of Committing a Crime” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” 7 years 6 months
Metin Balta Counter Terrorism Branch Chief
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” 6 years 8 months
Ahmet Çetiner Commissar at Counter Terrorism Branch
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 220 “Being a Member of an Organisation Established for the Purpose of Committing a Crime” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Ministry of Interior Civil Inspectors (2 persons)
Şükrü Yıldız Interior Ministry Civil Inspector
- TPC 257/2 ” Negligence of duty of a public official” Statute of limitations
- TPC 277/1 “Attempt to influence an expert” Statute of limitations
- TPC 314/2 “Knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organisation”
3 years 9 monthsCourt of Cassation overturned
Mehmet Ali Özkılınç Ministry of Interior, Civil Inspector
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation”
7 years 6 monthsCourt of Cassation overturned - Law No. 6415 “Providing funds to terrorist organisation” Acquitted
- TPC 283/1 “Favouring the guilty”
1 year 18 monthsAcquitted by the Court of appeal
Civilians (9 persons)
Ercan Gün Journalist
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a member of an armed terrorist organisation” 10 years
Muammer Ay IHA reporter
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
- TPC 220 “Being a Member of an Organisation Established for the Purpose of Committing a Crime” Acquitted
Adem Sarıgöl IQ Publishing House owner
- TPC 309 “Overthrowing the constitutional order” Acquitted
- TPC 314 “Being a Member of an Armed Terrorist Organisation” Acquitted
Fetullah Gülen
- His file has been severed.
Adem Yavuz Arslan
- His file has been severed.
Ekrem Dumanlı
- His file has been severed.
İbrahim Koca
- His file has been severed.
Mehmet Faruk Mercan
- His file was severed.
Zekeriya Öz
- His file has been severed.