Turkish TV fires journalist of Armenian descentNovember 19, 2015 - 17:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Turkish Bugun TV journalist of Armenian descent, Hayko Bagdat was fired under court-approved supervisory actions, Yerkir.am reports. The journalist confirmed the news with a tweet. Several months ago, Bagdat filed a lawsuit against Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek. In March, Gokcek made what some see as a verbal attack on Cem Özdemir, the co-chairman of the Green Party in Germany, writing on Twitter: "I am asking Özdemir just out of curiosity... Please give me a response Cem Özdemir... Are you of Armenian origin?" Gokcek's tweets came after Özdemir called on Turkey to recognize the killings of Armenians during the last years of the Ottoman Empire as Genocide. In response to Gokcek's tweets, Bagdat posted several tweets mocking Gokcek's question. "Reply Cem Özdemir! ... You are said to be an Armenian," posted Bagdat. In his following tweets, Bagdat suggested that Gokcek is Armenian. "I formally say you are an Armenian. In my opinion, you should sue me @06melihgokcek," Bagdat wrote. "The capital city [Ankara] was handed over to an Armenian! What a shame! I wait for you to come to church on Sunday @06melihgokcek. We are all grieving…" wrote Bagdat. After these tweets, Gokcek first filed a criminal complaint against Bagdat and then filed a lawsuit demanding compensation of TL 10,000 for psychological damages, arguing that Bagdat's remarks defining him as an Armenian were insulting and libelous, and made with the intention of harming Gokcek's reputation. Bagdat also used a hashtag #melihGokcek ermeniymiş" (Melih Gokcek turns out to be Armenian), which Gokcek referenced in his lawsuit. In response, Bagdat announced the lawsuit on Twitter, saying: "Turns out Melih Gokcek sued me demanding TL 10,000 for calling him Armenian. We are going to have so much fun." After that case was launched, Bagdat filed a counterclaim against Gokcek based on the content of Gokcek's claims against Bagdat, stressing that the word "Armenian" had been used to defame and insult him, amounting to an "explicit example of an attack on his rights and honor." Related links: Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |