A lawsuit was filed against journalist Hayko Bağdat over his article “My last piece about Erdoğan” (Erdoğan hakkında son yazım) published on ozguruz.org news website on April 14, 2017 and over his four Twitter posts. The journalist is now facing charges of “insulting the President of the Republic” and “publicly inciting the public to hatred and enmity” at the İstanbul 50th Criminal Court of First Instance.

At the third hearing held on October 14, 2020, Bağdat’s attorney Aktan said that the open address of Bağdat, who lives in Germany, was added to the case file and requested that the testimony of Bağdat be taken by rogatory. Handing down its interlocutory judgement, the court has ruled that the warrant previously issued against the journalist as part of this file shall be lifted and that his testimony shall be taken by rogatory. The next hearing will be held on February 3, 2021 (October 14).

Scheduled for February 3, 2021, the fourth hearing of the trial was adjourned until a later date as the attorneys of Hayko Bağdat presented an excuse (February 3).

At the hearing held on July 6, 2021, Hayko Bağdat’s attorneys presented an excuse; the hearing was held on the file and adjourned until a later date (July 6).

Hayko Bağdat, who lives abroad, did not attend the hearing on October 20, 2021. The court board ruled that Bağdat’s statement should be taken abroad and the return of the letters rogatory should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on February 16, 2022 (October 20).

At the hearing held on February 16, 2022, the lawyer of Hayko Bağdat requested a ruling of acquittal in compliance with the ECtHR ruling on Vedat Şorli, which was submitted to the court with a written petition between the hearings. The court board ruled that the reply to the letters rogatory should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on June 1 (February 16). 

At the hearing held on June 1, Bağdat’s attorney Merve Ömeroğlu demanded that the deficiencies in the file be rectified and that the rogatory letters be awaited. The court accepted the requests. The next hearing will be held on December 7, 2022 (June 1).

At the hearing held on December 7, 2022, Bağdat’s lawyer was present in the courtroom. The court board adjourned the trial. The next hearing will be held on March 29, 2023 (December 7th).

The 10th hearing of the case was held on September 27, 2023 at the Istanbul 50th Criminal Court of First Instance. The case was adjourned until February 21, 2024 (September 27th).

At the 15th hearing of the case, Bağdat’s lawyer Emine Özhasan requested time to notify the address of her client living in Germany. The prosecutor requested that the execution of the arrest warrant issued for Bağdat be awaited. The court, which gave lawyer Özhasan time to notify Bağdat’s address, ruled that the execution of the arrest warrant for Bağdat be awaited. The case was postponed to April 16, 2024 (October 13th).

The hearing was held on July 10 at the Istanbul 50th Criminal Court of First Instance. The court acquitted Bağdat of the charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” and “insulting a public official”. The court sentenced him to 1 year, 2 months and 17 days in prison for “insulting the President”. The sentence was postponed (July 10th).