Fırat Bulut was taken into custody in Esenboğa Airport in Ankara at night on March 9 on his return from Malatya in the earthquake-hit region.

Bulut was detained on the ground of a warrant issued by the Bingöl Penal Court of Peace and he was taken to the police station at the Esenboğa Airport.

He was taken to the Çubuk courthouse after health checks in the morning on March 10. He was connected to the Bingöl Penal Court via the Audiovisual Information System (SEGBİS). The Prosecutor’s Office requested judicial control for Bulut, but the court rejected the request and released Bulut (March 10).

The Elbistan Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office completed its investigation on July 10, 2023. An indictment was prepared against Bulut on the charge of “publicly disseminating misleading information” (TCK 217/A/1) on the grounds that Bulut’s February 8 post “smoke was rising from the courtyards of Elbistan Prison and the wards were set on fire” was “presented in a way that would create panic in the public and be to the detriment of public order and not reflect the truth”.

The indictment demanding a prison sentence of up to three years was accepted and a lawsuit was filed against Bulut. The first hearing of the case accepted by Elbistan 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance will be held on October 19, 2023.

Bulut stated that in addition to the investigation, he was also subjected to actual obstructions and threats, and that he had to take a break from journalism and go abroad (August 11).

On October 24, 2023 at the 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance in Elbistan, the prosecutor announced his final opinion and demanded a sentence (October 24).