TELE1 Sale Halted After Editor's Arrest

The planned sale of Turkish television channel TELE1 has been suspended following the arrest of its Editor-in-Chief, Merdan Yanardağ, who is under investigation for alleged espionage. The Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), appointed as the trustee for TELE1, requested the halt to the auction, which was initially scheduled for June 17.

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First of all, it must be emphasized that this decision is not a court decision, but a TMSF decision.

A petition was submitted to the Istanbul 10th Administrative Court, where TELE1's lawyers filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the sale proceedings. The TMSF's petition stated, "It has been decided to suspend the auction and withdraw the commercial and economic integrity from the sale. The case has become moot."

However, TELE1's lawyers argue that this decision is not a judicial one. "First of all, it must be emphasized that this decision is not a court decision, but a TMSF decision," said Bilgütay Hakkı Durna, Merdan Yanardağ's lawyer, in comments to Cumhuriyet. He recalled that they had previously stated the 28 million lira price set for the channel was too low to even cover employees' receivables.

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It has been decided to suspend the auction and withdraw the commercial and economic integrity from the sale. The case has become moot.

Durna expressed uncertainty about the background of the TMSF's decision but noted that the decision could be reversed. "We want justice to be served in the lawsuits we have filed as soon as possible, for Yanardağ to be freed, and for TELE1 to once again be the channel of its employees," he added.

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We want justice to be served in the lawsuits we have filed as soon as possible, for Yanardağ to be freed, and for TELE1 to once again be the channel of its employees.