Turkish students face 15 years in prison for demanding free educationMarch 10, 2012 - 13:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A newly appointed prosecutor in an ongoing trial has requested between 7.5 to 15 years in prison on terrorism-related charges for three university students who unfurled a banner demanding free education in 2010, Hurriyet Daily News reported. The previous prosecutor Kasım İlimoğlu had requested the students’ acquittal, arguing their act was constitutional and fell within the limits of the freedom of expression. Prosecutor Adem Özcan who replaced him following his appointment to the case, however, demanded on March 9 that the students, Ferhat Tüzer, Berna Yılmaz and Utku Aykar, be sentenced on charges of membership of a terrorist organization. Ferhat Tüzer, a mechanical engineering student at Trakya University, Berna Yılmaz, an anthropology student at Ankara University and the other suspect Utku Aykar opened a banner demanding free education during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s meeting with the Roma community on March, 2010. Tüzer and Yılmaz were subsequently arrested but later released after remaining behind bars for 18 months, while Aykar was tried withour arrest. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. Armenia calls for prohibiting threats of attacks on nuclear facilities Armenia has raised the need for a treaty prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes. Armenia says ready to extend nuclear plant’s lifetime by 10 years Armenia has taken necessary measures to extend the lifetime of its nuclear power plant until 2036. Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. |