CHP files criminal complaint against TRT executives! 'YSK and RTÜK are playing dead'

The state broadcaster TRT, which operates with citizens' taxes, continues to censor the opposition during the local election process.

TRT, which has not given even a single minute of airtime to the opposition's mayoral candidates, had also cut the broadcast of the group meeting where CHP Chairman Özgür Özel criticized TRT.

CHP'S MOVE AGAINST TRT: CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED

The CHP has taken action following the pro-government broadcasting policies of the state channel TRT.

Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman for Media and Public Relations Burhanettin Bulut announced that they have filed complaints against TRT with the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) and the Supreme Election Council (YSK), and that they have also filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office against TRT executives. 

Bulut also stated that they have applied to TRT for administrative action to be taken against those responsible.

Noting that Deputy Chairman for Election and Legal Affairs Gül Çiftçi submitted the criminal complaint and petitions to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, TRT, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), and the YSK, Bulut continued as follows:

"TRT, which should be impartial and autonomous, has become the mouthpiece of the AKP. The biased, discriminatory broadcasts and injustices of TRT, which has acted as the spokesperson for the government during the election process, have become blatantly obvious. We do not have the slightest belief that the YSK and RTÜK, which ignore election injustice, will take action. We filed the complaint petition only to record this democratic disgrace and this lawlessness in history. Because there is no law or justice in the country. All institutions have decayed and are decaying."

"YSK AND RTÜK ARE PLAYING DEAD"

Noting that while TRT, which has blacked out its screens to the opposition, is committing crimes in plain sight, the YSK and RTÜK are "playing dead," Bulut continued:

"The slightest criticism targeting the government is caught on RTÜK's radar. RTÜK rains down penalties on opposition channels for comments and evaluations that fall within the limits of freedom of thought and expression, but ignores TRT, whose bias is obvious. The YSK does not even lift a finger for TRT, which violates its own decisions.  Both the YSK and RTÜK are playing dead. The TRT management, taking refuge under the palace's protective shield, ignores the opposition and a segment of the nation, knowing full well that it is committing a crime. All institutions that turn a blind eye to what TRT does are committing a chain of official misconduct."

"TRT DOES NOT HAVE 81 SECONDS"

Stating that TRT, which broadcast the commercial film prepared by the AKP for the local elections as soon as the campaign began, is resisting broadcasting the CHP's commercial film, Bulut said, "We applied on February 15 to have our commercial film broadcast for a fee. TRT stalled us for 3 weeks, saying it was 'being reviewed by our legal department.'  At the end of 3 weeks, the response we received from TRT was, 'We have no available days in March.' 1 minute is 60 seconds, 1 hour is 3,600 seconds, 24 hours is 86,400 seconds, 1 month is 2 million 622 thousand 600 seconds, but TRT does not have '81 seconds' of available time to broadcast our party's commercial film throughout March.  If public institutions make it a habit to break the law; there will be no rule of law left, nor freedom of the press. There is no legal institution left within the borders of the Republic of Turkey where we can complain about TRT. That is why we are making our complaint to our nation" he said.

News Source: 12punto