Biden praises CNN Türk for ‘resisting’ during coup attempt

ANKARA

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has praised Turkish broadcaster CNN Türk for “resisting” the July 15 failed coup attempt, upon being briefed during a meeting with the Turkish prime minister and an executive of Doğan Media Group, CNN Türk’s parent company, on the channel’s role in stopping the plotters and a raid on its headquarters.

“It’s impressive. I’m proud of the resistance of the CNN Türk family,” Biden said on Aug. 24 when Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım introduced Doğan Media Group executive Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ to him after a joint press briefing.
CNN Türk Ankara bureau chief Hande Fırat’s interview with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan through the FaceTime application on her mobile phone in the critical hours of July 15 changed the course of the coup attempt, as thousands of people subsequently hit the streets to stand against coup plotters upon Erdoğan’s call.

This was the first time the president appeared on a national broadcaster since the start of the coup attempt, during which the state-run TRT fell into the hands of the plotters.

The coup plotting soldiers then raided the buildings of CNN Türk and daily Hürriyet in Istanbul but the channel continued to broadcast despite the soldiers’ demand to cut the feed, Yalçındağ told Biden.

The aforementioned soldiers were neutralized with the help of citizens who went to CNN Türk’s building to support the people working there, he said.

“It’s a terrific story. Convey my best wishes to all your employees,” Biden said after hearing about the events from Yalçındağ.