Sisli Mayor accused of organization of Dink funeral with pro-Armenian slogansFebruary 23, 2007 - 15:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The prosecutor's office for Istanbul's Sisli district has launched an investigation into Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigül and the committee that organized the funeral for journalist Hrant Dink, the slain editor of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, for the slogans "We are all Armenians", "We are all Hrant Dink", according to a report from Milliyet daily.A reporter for a local daily in the northern city of Sinop, Mete Cagdas, filed a complaint to the local prosecutor's office in Sinop. Cagdas's application accused Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigül and the funeral organizers of turning the atmosphere at the funeral into one for a fallen "militant," a term used subjectively in this case to discredit the legitimacy of the protests. According to Milliyet's report, the chief prosecutor's office in Sinop had no jurisdiction in the case and relayed the file to the Sisli chief prosecutor's office in late January. Sisli prosecutors launched an investigation which might end up in a law suit against the organizers or in dismissal. In either case, the Sisli office will have to make a statement clarifying its opinion of the funeral slogans. Hrant Dink was shot dead in Istanbul January 19. About 100 thousand people, who were carrying slogans "We are all Armenians", "We are all Hrant Dink", attended his funeral. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. 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. |