OSCE representative urges to identify masterminds behind Hrant Dink’s murder

“I remain hopeful that recent developments in the trial will help bring the masterminds behind the murder to justice,” Mijatovic said, referring to the December 2015 decision of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to approve an indictment by prosecutor Gokalp Kokcu to investigate 25 public officials on charges of negligence and misconduct related to the murder.

Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of the bi-weekly Agos newspaper was gunned down on 19 January 2007 in front of his office in Istanbul. In 2011, the perpetrator Ogun Samast was sentenced to 22 years and ten months in prison for the murder. His accomplice, Yasin Hayal, is serving a life sentence for supplying Samast with a weapon and money.

“I trust that the trial will finally serve justice to Dink’s family, friends and colleagues,” Mijatovic said. “Exposing the masterminds would also demonstrate to the entire society the importance of freedom of expression, and the continued need to fight violence against journalists.”