'Justice March for 78 Souls' reaches Ankara; families call for ministry accountability

Families who lost 78 relatives, including children, in the Bolu Grand Kartal Hotel fire are continuing their "Justice March for 78 Souls" from Bolu to Ankara. Their primary demand is for officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to face legal accountability.

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Justice that is left unfinished is not justice.

The marchers arrived in Ankara and plan to conclude their protest with a press conference at Ulus Square. Çiğdem Sarıtaş, who lost her brother and nephews in the fire, highlighted that the march was initiated by Oktay Akişli, who walked the entire distance. She emphasized their slogan, "Justice that is left unfinished is not justice."

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We want the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to prepare the indictment as soon as possible and for the trials to begin.

Sarıtaş explained that the first phase of the trial involved the hotel owner, board members, general managers, Bolu Municipality employees, and Provincial Special Administration officials. While the initial verdict was satisfactory, they hope the Supreme Court upholds it. The second phase targets ministry bureaucrats, for whom an indictment is still pending despite a decision from the Council of State 10 months ago.

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We are waiting for everyone who respects our pain, who wants such pains not to be experienced in the future, for precedent-setting decisions to be made, and for other disasters not to occur, to join us at the press conference we will hold tomorrow at 12:00 PM in front of the Ulus Atatürk Monument.

The families are appealing to the citizens of Ankara for support. They invite anyone who empathizes with their grief and desires to prevent future tragedies to join their press conference at 12:00 PM in front of the Atatürk Monument in Ulus. Oktay Akişli, who lost his mother, brother, and nephew in the fire, stated they are in central Ankara and welcome all who share similar pain or wish to stand with them in their pursuit of justice. Duygu Can, who lost her daughter and son, echoed this sentiment, calling for solidarity from those who believe such tragedies should not happen again.

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As we have said in the interviews and statements we have given along the way since the beginning, we welcome everyone who has experienced similar pain to us or who shares our pain to Ankara.