A lawsuit was filed against journalist Rüstem Batum on charge of “publicly degrading the military and security organization of the state” as per the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) on the grounds that he allegedly insulted soldiers, police and the President during the “Ayşegül Doğan ile Gündem Müzakere” program broadcast on İMC TV on September 10, 2015.

At the hearing held on June 11, 2021, the court board ruled that the warrant issued against Batum should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on November 12 (June 11). 

At the hearing held on March 4, 2022, the court ruled that the warrant issued against Batum, who is abroad, to take his statement of defense should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on June 24 (March 4). 

At the hearing held on June 24, Batum’s lawyer demanded that he be acquitted without interrogation, due to the stage of the case and the fact that the complainant also gave up on the complaint. The court indicated that the offense charged was not dependent on the complaint and, therefore, ruled that the execution of the warrant against Batum, whose statement of defense had not yet been taken, should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on November 4 (June 24).

At the hearing held on November 4, 2022, Batum’s lawyers requested that their client be acquitted with the statements taken during the investigation taken into consideration. The court ruled that the execution of the warrant issued against Batum should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on January 27, 2023 (November 4).

2023

At the January 27 hearing, the court ruled to await the execution of the arrest warrant against Batum. The next hearing is on July 7 (January 27).

On July 7, the court decided to await the execution of the arrest warrant against Batum and adjourned the trial to December 19, 2023 (July 7).