Turkey’s ombudsman receives almost 13,000 complaints in two years

ANKARA

The institution of the Chief Ombudsman of Turkey has received almost 13,000 complaints since it first started accepting applications in late March 2013.

Information provided by Turkey’s first ever chief ombudsman, Mehmet Nihat Ömeroğlu, came in response to a written motion filed by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Sezgin Tanrıkulu.

From March 29, 2013, until Dec. 18, 2014, a total of 12,982 complaints were filed with the Ombudsman’s Office, according to Ömeroğlu’s response, which Tanrıkulu shared with the public on Jan. 11.

Ömeroğlu began actively working in his post in March 2013, after taking his oath in December 2012.

Of the 12,982 complaints received, 4,215 were found inadmissible, Ömeroğlu stated, adding that apart from 408 complaints which didn’t meet the application conditions, all applications had been subject to preliminary review.

The institution received 23 complaints in total concerning the Gezi Park protests in the summer of 2013, Ömeroğlu said in response to a particular question from Tanrıkulu.

Of those 23 complaints, 17 were merged and reviewed under one file, while the other six were found inadmissible, he also stated, adding that eventually an “advice decision” was made and sent to Interior Ministry, the Governorate of Istanbul and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, who were all subject to complaints.