TURKEY

After gunshots were heard in Istanbul Atatürk Airport, the explosions took place. At least 28 people were killed and 60 are injured.

The investigation on Ankara massacre happened on October 10 is completed. In the indictment, aggravated life imprisonment is demanded for 36 suspects.

Turkish Foreign Ministry released a condemnation statement concerning Pope Francis' visit to Armenia and statements that he made during that visit. The ministry claimed that the Pope committed religious discrimination and argued that this visit “doesn't contribute to the peace and stability in Southern Caucasus.”

Pope Francis' 3-day visit to Armenia has ended. Defining what happened in 1915 as genocide once again, the Pope made a call for Turkey and Armenia “to build bridges, not walls" at their frontiers.

A group of people from different circles of Armenian society gathered in front of the Patriarchate and demand a patriarchal election, which couldn’t have been done for 8 years. The group placed a black wreath on the door.

A new report realesed by Council of Europe’s Monitoring Committee, has criticised the Turkish government on multiple counts: Human rights abuse allegations in Kurdish areas, Restrictions on press freedoms and freedom of speech, ect…

At the entrance of Tuzluca province of Iğdır, there was a sign that reads “Welcome” and “Good bye” in Turkish, English, Kurdish and Armenian. Now, the Armenian part is removed.

On the second day of hearings, the cross examination of Muhittin Zenit, who was an officer in Trabzon Intelligence Branch at the time of murder, is continued. Zenit said, “As an officer, I submitted my report as 'he will be killed'. It was redesigned by Engin Dinç and Özkan Mumcu.”

Şebnem Fincancı, Erol Önderoğlu and Ahmet Nesin were arrested yesterday, because they worked as editors-in-chief on watch for Özgür Gündem newspaper. EU, Human Rights Watch, PEN and EuroMed released press statements about the arrests. They demand immediate release.

The first day of hearings started with the defence and cross examination of Muhittin Zenit, who was an officer in Trabzon Intelligence Branch at the time of murder. Questions about almost 20 missing intelligence reports, Zeynel Abidin Yavuz, the phone call that Zenit made to Erhan Tuncel after the murder were addressed to Muhittin Zenit. It is also asked who changed the intelligence report by writing “an impactful action”.