A court in Istanbul has sentenced 9 defendants to life in prison for the 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Turkish authorities to continue investigating the masterminds behind Dink’s killing, according to Aravot.

"Nearly 20 years of trials and appeals have failed to bring justice for Hrant Dink’s family," said CPJ’s Turkey representative, Özgür Öğret. He called on Turkish authorities to stop ignoring the family’s lawyers and conduct a deeper investigation to expose those who ordered the murder.

Dink’s family lawyers plan to appeal the February 7 verdict, arguing that the case suffered from an incomplete investigation and procedural flaws.

According to the ruling:

-Muharrem Demirkale received a life sentence for "premeditated murder."

-Bekir Yokuş was sentenced to life for "violating the Constitution" and 10 years for "aiding premeditated murder."

-Yavuz Karakaya got 12.5 years for "aiding premeditated murder."

-Ali Öz, Gazi Günay, and Okan Şimşek were sentenced to life for "violating the Constitution" and 25 years for "premeditated murder."

-Mehmet Ayhan, Hasan Durmuşoğlu, and Onur Karakaya got life for "violating the Constitution" and 12.5 years for "premeditated murder."

-Osman Gülbel was sentenced to life for "violating the Constitution" and 16 years, 8 months for "premeditated murder."

-Veysel Şahin received 15 years for "manslaughter due to negligence."

The court acquitted Volkan Şahin, Şükrü Yıldız, and Mehmet Ali Özkılınç, who had been convicted of conspiracy in 2021. It also ordered the arrest of Bekir Yokuş, Mehmet Ayhan, and Onur Karakaya, who had been free before the verdict.

On January 9, the same court ruled in a parallel case related to the murder plot. Two defendants were sentenced to life for "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order," while some charges were dropped.

CPJ sought comment from the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office but received no response.

Dink, the founder of the bilingual weekly Agos, was assassinated in Istanbul in 2007 after receiving multiple death threats.