Trial of Kılıçdaroğlu adjourned

The hearing for the trial of former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who is being prosecuted on charges of "praising crime and criminals in a chain manner," was held at the Ankara 11th High Criminal Court.

Kılıçdaroğlu's lawyer, who did not attend the hearing, submitted a petition stating that his client could not be present in court due to his busy political schedule. The lawyer argued that the elements of the crime were not met in the indictment and requested an acquittal.

The prosecution requested that the missing issues in the file be addressed. After the statements, the court panel announced its interim decision and accepted Kılıçdaroğlu's excuse.

The court ordered that Kılıçdaroğlu be present at the next session. The decision stated that if he is not present at the next hearing, a warrant for his forced appearance or for taking his statement could be issued.

The indictment, prepared by the Parliamentary Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, seeks a prison sentence of up to 10 years for Kılıçdaroğlu. In the indictment, some of Kılıçdaroğlu's statements regarding Selahattin Demirtaş and the YPG are cited as the basis for the charges.

News Source: 12punto