Lawyers for imprisoned journalist Murat Ağırel, Oğuzhan Aslan and Emrah Karatay, announced that they have filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı and Tamar Tanrıyar.
It was stated that the application was made due to allegations raised about Ağırel in television programs and social media broadcasts. The lawyers argued that Kütahyalı's claims that Ağırel obtained benefits from Mustafa Sarıgül through cryptocurrency and therefore refrained from reporting on him do not reflect the truth.
In the lawyers' statement, it was expressed that the allegations in question were not verified by a MASAK report, but rather refuted by it. It was noted that following the initial allegations, new accusations were brought to the public's attention through different individuals.
The statement also addressed Tamar Tanrıyar's broadcasts on her YouTube channel. It was noted that there was no statement accusing Ağırel in the interview Tanrıyar conducted with two German citizens who are complainants in the investigation, yet Ağırel was targeted through comments made after the broadcast.
Pointing out that Ağırel's ability to defend himself in public is limited due to his imprisonment, the lawyers stated that the circulation of allegations not contained in the investigation file damages the presumption of innocence.
The lawyers reported that Ağırel has requested a comprehensive MASAK investigation into himself, his family members, close relatives, and friends, and that this request is included in the investigation file. It was reported that the application was made on charges of "slander," "dissemination of false information," and "violation of the confidentiality of an investigation."
News Source: 12punto
