Two suspects in Hrant Dink murder case arrested in Trabzon

ISTANBUL

A group of activists gathered in front of the Istanbul Courthouse ahead of the hearing asking justice to be served, Jan. 7. AA photo

Gendarmerie forces have detained two suspects whose arrests were demanded by an Istanbul court in the case into the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, CNNTürk has reported.

Zeynel Abidin Yavuz, who was said to be the first person chosen as part of the conspiracy to murder Dink, was detained by gendarmerie forces in the Black Sea province of Trabzon’s Pelitli neighborhood on Jan. 7 and sent to the courthouse.

Osman Hayal, the brother of Yasin Hayal, who was charged with being the instigator of the assassination, was also captured in Trabzon a few hours later.

The court ruled for the arrests of both key suspects.

Dink, the renowned editor-in-chief of Agos, was shot dead by Ogün Samast in front of his office in Istanbul on Jan. 19, 2007. Samast was subsequently sentenced to over 22 years in jail for the murder.

The trial into his murder resumed on Sept. 17, 2013, with 18 suspects being retried after the Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that all suspects in the case had acted as part of a criminal organization, instead of individually.

A group of activists called the “Friends of Dink” gathered in front of the courthouse and chanted slogans ahead of the hearing.

Popular novelist Ahmet Ümit, speaking on behalf of the group, said their demand to try the public servants who allegedly bear responsibility for Dink’s murder had yet to be heeded.

“Instead, these same public officials have been promoted,” Ümit said.