Having shared the Turkey Youth Association (TÜGVA) papers allegedly showing caderization within the state, journalist Metin Cihan was put on trial on charge of “obtaining or disseminating personal data unlawfully”. 

At the second hearing of the case held on April 15, 2022, the lawyers of the parties were present in the courtroom. Arrested for allegedly leaking the TÜGVA papers, former TÜGVA employee Ramazan Aydoğdu attended the hearing from the Üsküdar Paşa Kapısı Prison via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). The judge read out the petition submitted to the court by TÜGVA and alleging that defendant Aydoğdu was not a TÜGVA employee, but working voluntarily. TÜGVA’s lawyer took the floor and said that their complaints were still in place and requested involvement in the trial. 

The court ruled that TÜGVA’s request be accepted, the warrant against Cihan remain in effect and an expert report be issued to find out whether there was any contact between the defendants in obtaining, manipulating, tempering with and sending the papers. The court also ruled that Aydoğdu’s arrest should continue. The next hearing will be held on May 11 (April 15). 

At the hearing held on May 11, the court decided to release the defendant R. A. and decided to wait for the execution of the arrest warrant issued for journalist Metin Cihan and the preparation of the expert report. The next hearing will be held on June 24 (May 11).

At the hearing held on June 24, the court ruled that a writ should be addressed to the İstanbul Regional Expertise Board of the Ministry of Justice regarding the experts who had withdrawn from the case without offering an excuse. The court also ruled that Aydoğdu’s judicial control and the warrant against Cihan should remain in force. The next hearing will be held on October 19 (June 24).

At the hearing held on October 19, 2022, the court rejected the request of lawyer Özgür Urfa, who requested a criminal complaint against the expert who had withdrawn from the file, and ruled that the execution of the warrant against journalist Metin Cihan should be awaited and that the file should be sent again to the expert. The next hearing will be held on December 14 (October 19).

At the hearing held on December 14, 2022, Cihan’s lawyer requested that the expert report be examined by an impartial person who was not a police officer. The next hearing will be held on March 8, 2023 (December 14).

The expert submitted an opinion in the hearing held on March 8. Ramazan Aydoğdu asked for time in order to present the report. The next hearing will be held on April 28 (March 8)