The Umut Trial including also the murder of journalists Uğur Mumcu and Ahmet Taner Kışlalı back in the 90s, has been continuing with the five defendants and the bomber, sought with red notice, Oğuz Demir, for whom the Constitutional Court requested a retrial. The next trial of five defendants was held on November 8. The trial of Oğuz Demir, stated to be a bomber and sought with red notice, continued on October 31 (8 November).
The Ankara 5th Criminal Court of First Instance ruled that Oğuz Demir, who was confirmed by the court to have planted the bomb in journalist-writer Uğur Mumcu’s car, should be designated as “fugitive”. With this decision, it became possible to prosecute the “fugitive defendant” (December 24).
The trial of Oğuz Demir, who was accused of killing journalist Uğur Mumcu by planting a bomb in his car on January 24, 1993 at the Ankara 5th High Criminal Court was held. Demir has not been caught for 30 years (May 30th).
The Ankara 5th High Criminal Court continued the trial in absentia of Oğuz Demir, who was accused of killing journalist-writer Uğur Mumcu by planting a bomb in his car on January 24, 1993, and has reportedly been sought via Interpol with a red notice.
The Mumcu family’s lawyer requested that the investigation be expanded and that former Police Chief and Interior Minister Mehmet Ağar be heard as a witness.
According to the petition submitted to the court, Güldal Mumcu met with Deputy Minister of Interior Mehmet Aktaş, who informed her that Oğuz Demir had been seen in Iran and Chechnya, and had arranged for his family to leave the country.
The lawyer requested that official correspondence be sent to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).
The court ruled to send inquiries to the relevant ministries, to request information from the General Directorate of Security regarding Demir’s family, and to decide on hearing Mehmet Ağar after the requested documents are submitted.
The next hearing was scheduled for January 16, 2025.
16 January 2025
The Ankara 5th High Criminal Court continued the in absentia trial of Oğuz Demir, accused of planting the bomb that killed journalist Uğur Mumcu on 24 January 1993. Demir has been a fugitive for 32 years, reportedly wanted by Interpol.
The hearing was attended by Mumcu’s wife Güldal Mumcu, his daughter Özge Aybars Mumcu, and lawyers Yalçın Akbal and Turgut Kazan.
Lawyer Yalçın Akbal recalled that in 2000, during the disbanding of the organization, Demir allegedly abandoned his car at a police checkpoint in Sincan and disappeared, suggesting that he had been tipped off in advance. Akbal requested that the authorities closely investigate the domestic movements of Demir’s relatives.
Lawyer Turgut Kazan reiterated his demand that Mehmet Ağar, who was General Director of Security at the time of the assassination and later served as Minister of Justice, be heard as a witness. Kazan argued: “The Susurluk report shows that Ağar was at the center of everything. The investigation into Oğuz Demir is insufficient, and we are facing an attempt to shield him from justice.”
At the end of the hearing, the court ruled that Mehmet Ağar must be present at the next hearing on 12 May, and that the General Directorate of Security should investigate Oğuz Demir and his relatives.
12 May 2025
The Ankara 5th High Criminal Court continued the trial in absentia of Oğuz Demir, accused of planting the bomb that killed journalist Uğur Mumcu in 1993, in its 12th hearing. Former Police Chief and later Justice Minister Mehmet Ağar, who was expected to testify as a witness, could not be heard because the court notification had not reached him. The court decided to send an invitation to Ağar’s address in Beykoz to take his testimony via SEGBİS. The trial is scheduled to resume on September 22.
22 September 2025
At the 13th hearing of the trial concerning the 1993 assassination of journalist Uğur Mumcu and the killings of Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, Muammer Aksoy, and Bahriye Üçok, former Interior Minister and then Police Chief Mehmet Ağar testified as a witness for the first time. Appearing via SEGBİS from Istanbul, Ağar stated that his widely quoted remark, “If I pull out the brick, the wall will collapse,” had been misunderstood.
Ağar said he was the Governor of Erzurum at the time of Mumcu’s assassination and recalled his ties with the Mumcu family:
“I used to visit Uğur Bey’s home and meet with him. Despite his reluctance, I sometimes sent him a protection team during critical times. We shared the same stance on Turkey’s full independence, the rule of law, and complete opposition to terrorism.”
He explained that his remark was intended to suggest hopes of uncovering links between the killings: “Why should I be afraid? I would pull down both the wall and the brick. I was a man ready to face death.”
Responding to questions, Ağar denied involvement with “Gladio,” insisting: “We worked under the supervision of prosecutors; everything was officially recorded. These are imaginary claims.” He also stressed that he had never faced political pressure, saying: “I have never bowed to any illegitimate pressure in the service of the state.”
During the hearing, Mumcu’s daughter Özge Mumcu rejected Ağar’s claim of close ties with the family, while lawyer Yalçın Akbal raised concerns that suspect Oğuz Demir and his associates may have been helped to leave the country, requesting information from the Foreign Ministry and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT).
The court ruled to send official inquiries to the Foreign Ministry and MİT and to continue waiting for the arrest of fugitive suspect Oğuz Demir. The trial was adjourned to 9 February 2026.
