He announced the decision Fatih Altaylı has made: After getting out of prison...

Journalist İsmail Saymaz, on the program Para Siyaset hosted by Ebru Baki on Halk TV, revealed the details of his meeting with Fatih Altaylı and Merdan Yanardağ in prison. Saymaz reported that both journalists sent their greetings to the viewers and have been following programs while in prison.

ALTAYLI: “I THINK I WILL REMAIN FOR ANOTHER 7 MONTHS”

According to Saymaz, Fatih Altaylı stated that his conditions in prison are good. Altaylı made the following remarks regarding the release process:

“I think I will remain here for about another 7–7.5 months.”

Altaylı also said that he would not return to daily political commentary programs after his release. Saymaz reported that Altaylı made this decision on the grounds that “the political atmosphere is not suitable.” It was also noted that Altaylı might consider turning toward programs focused on history and science.

“THE OPERATION HAD TWO PURPOSES”

İsmail Saymaz said that he had a long conversation with Merdan Yanardağ. Yanardağ evaluated the process targeting Tele1 as follows:

“The operation conducted against us had two purposes. The first was to silence Tele1, one of the most influential opposition channels in Turkey. This was intended and achieved. The second was to arrest Ekrem İmamoğlu through a second case that would allow him to remain inside.”

Yanardağ stated that Hüseyin Gün, who testified against him on charges of espionage, “did not provide much testimony against him,” and noted that he is waiting for the indictment to be issued.

“TELE1 WAS A DEBT-FREE CHANNEL”

Yanardağ also shared important information regarding the economic structure of Tele1. According to Saymaz, Yanardağ said the following:

“Our channel was a debt-free channel. There were only delays in license fees during certain periods, but these were manageable debts. None of our employees' salaries were ever delayed. Our employees were picked up by shuttle and dropped off at home by shuttle. They ate three meals a day. We had created a good business model. We had a structure that looked after its employees.”

Yanardağ also claimed that there were attempts to sell the channel entirely, using the following expression:

“I see that the channel is wanted to be sold with all its assets. I have received sales offers many times, and I rejected them all. Now they want to take an influential channel away from us and sell it.”

Saymaz stated that both journalists were in good spirits, noting, “I found them both well. They are healthy and are analyzing the process clearly.”

Saymaz, who said that Fatih Altaylı reads a lot of books in prison, reported that Merdan Yanardağ has turned to books on detective and intelligence themes in that field due to the “espionage” accusation directed at him.

Saymaz also said that Yanardağ told him about a “famous British spy who served the KGB while working at MI6” while in prison and recommended related books to him.