On December 23, at the Bakirköy District Court in Istanbul, the trial of five Turkmen activists was held, who were accused in July 2020 by the Turkmen consulate of violating public order and threatening diplomats with violence. About it reported by the Turkmen Helsinki Fund (THF).

The court found no corpus delicti in the actions of the activists and acquitted Merdzhen Agayeva, Khamragul Gochieva, Parahat Muradov, Dursoltan Taganova and Khanum Rasulova , whom Turkish police detained on July 19 when the citizens of Turkmenistan were planning to hold a protest in front of the Turkmen consulate.

They began to detain the protesters even before the start. Many were caught already at the exit of the metro. Apparently, Turkmen diplomats sent a complaint to the Turkish police.

The prosecutor's office opened case No. 2020/633/25 against the five detainees, accusing them of violating the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations.

“The trial in this case lasted 17 months, 8 court sessions were held, some of the accused, due to fears of detention (due to expired documents) did not appear at the court session. The record's lawyer Mustafa Yaman ( Mustafa Ýaman ) found no consulate officially signed complaints or allegations. There is only a protocol drawn up by the police at the scene of the incident, ”writes THF.

Source: Chronicles of Turkmenistan