An investigation was launched on October 3 against Sinan Aygül, President of Bitlis Journalists’ Association, who was seriously wounded on June 17 in Tatvan district of Bitlis when he was attacked by two armed bodyguards of Tatvan Mayor Mehmet Emin Geylani, one of whom was a police officer, on charges of “insult,” “simple wounding,” “attempted simple wounding with a weapon,” “simple wounding with a weapon” and “threatening” on October 3.

On August 11, Tatvan Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office investigated the complaint and issued a decision of non-prosecution against Aygül (November 15).

A lawsuit was filed against Aygül for “insulting” the bodyguard after the attack. The indictment prepared by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office was accepted by Tatvan 1st Criminal Court of First Instance. The court ruled that the case should be tried by “simple trial procedure” under Article 251 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Accordingly, the case started to be tried on December 14 at Tatvan 1st Criminal Court of First Instance in Bitlis. The trial was adjourned to January 25, 2024 (December 14).

Tatvan Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced Aygül to 2 months and 5 days of imprisonment on the charge of “insult” (January 24).

The second hearing in the trial of Sinan Aygül on the charge of “insult” was held at the Tatvan 1st Criminal Court of First Instance on 5 June 2024. Aygül and his lawyer Diyar Orak were present at the hearing. The court ruled that there were no grounds for sentencing and acquitted Aygül (June 5th).