In the trial of journalist Ali Ergin Demirhan for “insulting the President of the Republic” due to a social media post, the third hearing was held at the İstanbul 55th Criminal Court of First Instance.
In the related tweet dated February 27, 2020 and cited as the criminal evidence, there was criticism of Turkey’s Syria policy following Russia’s air strike that claimed the lives of 33 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), reading, “Two ‘non-drinking’ drunkards, mobilizing the TAF for a cross-border operation that has no legal basis left and bringing forward the second biggest military power of the world, has driven Turkey to the gravest and most shameful fiascos of its history.”
At the hearing held on July 4, 2022, the prosecutor’s office presented its final opinion as to the accusations and demanded the journalist’s acquittal as the legal elements of the crime did not arise. The court, concurring with this opinion, ruled that Demirhan should be acquitted (July 4).