Case opened into murder of Turkish general 20 years on

DİYARBAKIR – Doğan News Agency

An indictment concerning the murder of Regional Gendarmery Commandant Brig. Gen. Bahtiyar Aydın and 16 other people during clashes in southeastern Turkey in 1993 has been issue, a day before the statue of limitations applied on the case expired.

The indictment demanded a life sentence for retired Gen. Eşref Hatipoğlu, who was Diyarbakır’s Gendermarie regiment commander at that time, and a 24 year-jail sentence for Lt. Tünay Yanardağ, with charges of “premeditated murder,” “encouraging rebel and murder in the society,” and “organizing to commit a crime.”

Brig. Gen. Aydın and 16 people were killed in clashes in Diyarbakır’s Lice district on Oct. 22, 1993. It was the first time that a general had been killed during the conflict.

Public Prosecutor Osman Coşkun issued the indictment on the evening of Oct. 21 night and sent it to the Prosecutor’s office. The indictment was approved by the Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court on Oct. 22, just prior to the expiration of the statue of limitations.