The fourth hearing of the trial involving 139 individuals charged in connection with the protests in Istanbul’s Saraçhane district was held on January 14 at Istanbul’s 49th Criminal Court of First Instance. The court did not issue a ruling, citing the absence of an expert report in the case file and certain document deficiencies. Among the defendants charged with “violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” and “failing to comply with a dispersal order” was former CHP Party Assembly member Berkay Gezgin. Lawyers requested acquittal, arguing that the legal elements of the crime had not been established. The prosecution argued that the deficiencies needed to be addressed. The court decided to postpone the hearing until March 30, 2026, pending the expert report, the examination of HTS records, and additional information requested from the Istanbul Police Department and the Governor’s Office.
January 14, 2026
Evrensel