Court halts five-day blackout of Halk TV

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The Ankara 7th Administrative Court has announced its interim ruling as to the application of Press Council Chair Pınar Türenç.

Evaluating the objection raised by Türenç against the five-day blackout imposed by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) on pro-opposition Halk TV, the court has given a ruling of stay of execution.

In another lawsuit filed by İlhan Taşçı and Okan Konuralp, two RTÜK Supreme Board Members from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), the Ankara 3rd Administrative Court previously gave a ruling of stay of execution for the five-day blackout imposed by the RTÜK on Halk TV.

In her application to the Ankara 7th Administrative Court, Press Council Chair Türenç requested that the execution of the blackout dated July 1, 2020 be suspended and that the blackout be repealed by the court.

In its interim ruling dated yesterday (August 11), the court has ruled that "the case file shall be sent to the Ankara Regional Administrative Court so that it can be identified whether this file is related to the lawsuits filed at the Ankara 3rd Administrative Court and the Ankara 16th Administrative Court."

Accordingly, the Ankara 7th Administrative Court has temporarily accepted the request for stay of execution until the Ankara Regional Administrative Court hands down its judgement as to the relation between the cases.

While the court has given its ruling unanimously, it has been noted that after its judgement is notified to the parties, an objection can be raised at the Ankara Regional Administrative Court within seven days. (EKN/SD)