CHP reacts to AA and TRT over Kartalkaya: 'They produced biased reports'

Debates continue regarding the tragic fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya region of Bolu, which resulted in the loss of 78 lives. The Republican People's Party (CHP) has reacted sharply to reports by Anadolu Agency (AA) and TRT Haber that targeted the Bolu Municipality. CHP Deputy Chair Gül Çiftçi announced that they have taken legal action, stating that the reports were intended to create a negative perception of the Bolu Municipality in the public eye.

'BIASED REPORTING'

The CHP issued a detailed statement regarding a report published by Anadolu Agency in recent days under the headline, "Bolu Municipality issued a 'fire safety compliance' decision for the restaurant in the burned hotel 19 days ago," and the documents used in that report. CHP Deputy Chair Çiftçi stated the following regarding the document mentioned in the report:

"AA and TRT Haber have carried out their public broadcasting duties in a biased manner, producing reports that are misleading, incomplete, and contain intentional statements against the Bolu Municipality. The document in question belongs to a 70-square-meter cafe-restaurant that was intended to be opened in the ski slope area, which is not part of the main structure. However, this document was presented as if it had been issued for the entire hotel that burned down, in an attempt to create a false perception."

FIRE SAFETY INSUFFICIENCY DOCUMENT EMERGES  

Among the details disclosed by the CHP was the result of the "fire safety certificate" application made to the Bolu Municipality by the Grand Kartal Hotel. Inspections conducted by the municipality determined that the facility failed to meet fire safety criteria in eight out of nine categories, and this was recorded in an official document. However, according to the CHP, AA and TRT did not include this document and instead presented the document related only to the cafe-restaurant as if it had been issued for the general status of the hotel.

THE MINISTRY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS BEING COVERED UP 

Çiftçi stated that the responsibility for inspections at the hotel lies with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. She remarked, "Following this tragedy where 78 of our citizens lost their lives, the Bolu Municipality has been targeted instead of uncovering the real culprits. Perception management efforts aimed at shifting the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism onto the municipality are incompatible with the Principles of Press Ethics."

LEGAL PROCESS INITIATED  

The CHP emphasized that legal steps have been taken against these reports and that AA and TRT bear responsibility for their misleading coverage. Çiftçi stated, "We will continue our struggle to ensure that the process regarding the Grand Kartal Hotel fire is conducted fairly and accurately. Our legal initiatives are ongoing to ensure the truth comes to light, justice is served, and the public is correctly informed."

In his remarks, Çiftçi also criticized a member of parliament's statements regarding the incident. Expressing his reaction, Çiftçi said, "A member of a political party tried to cover up the incident by saying, 'I know the family, I know a lot, but I will not speak.' This is a situation that wounds the conscience. Everyone who covers up the truth in an incident where 78 of our people lost their lives is responsible."

News Source: 12punto