An investigation was launched against journalist Oktay Candemir on charge of “insult” because of his social media post containing a photo of Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez.

In his Twitter post on April 25, 2022, “Vanspor is dead. The city’s economy is dead. Civil and democratic life is dead. The local press is dead. The municipality is dead. What remained were bribery, preferential treatment, drugs, gambling, hunger, and misery. We did all this. Here I am the Governor and the President of VANTSO… Here I am!” wrote Candemir. Upon this post, he was summoned to the Police Department within the scope of an investigation. Candemir gave his statement accompanied by his lawyer and left the Police Department after the completion of the proceedings (May 10).

At the first hearing held on November 24, 2022, Candemir made his defense. Candemir said that the ones who governed the city were responsible for the troubles in the city and that they were open to criticism for this reason, adding that he tweeted within the frame of freedom of expression. Following the lawyer’s defense, the court adjourned the trial so that the deficiencies in the file would be eliminated. The next hearing will be held on January 17, 2023 (November 24).