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UK economist investigated in Turkey for calling Erdogan 'psychopath'
🇬🇷 Greece /Crime & Justice

UK economist investigated in Turkey for calling Erdogan 'psychopath'

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Turkish authorities have opened an investigation into British economist Timothy Ash for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
  • Ash reportedly called Erdogan a 'psychopath' in a video at an event in Turkey, comparing him to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • Ash stated the comment was a slip of the tongue and that the event was subject to the Chatham House rule, which allows for comments to be used without attribution.

Turkish judiciary has initiated an investigation into British economist Timothy Ash, who specializes in Turkish affairs, for allegedly 'insulting the president.' The probe follows a video circulating online, shared by the pro-government newspaper Sabah, where Ash reportedly called President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a 'psychopath.'

I would say we are living in an era of perhaps psychopathic leaders... You see, Netanyahu, Erdogan...

— Timothy AshDuring a video at an event in Turkey, reportedly comparing Erdogan to Netanyahu.

In the video, filmed at an event in Turkey on Saturday, Ash appeared to compare Erdogan to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, 'I would say we are living in an era of perhaps psychopathic leaders... You see, Netanyahu, Erdogan...' He then appeared to retract the statement, saying, 'Oh, I don't mean that. I take it back. Stop the recording.'

Oh, I don't mean that. I take it back. Stop the recording.

— Timothy AshAppearing to retract his earlier statement in the same video.

However, when contacted by Agence France-Presse, Ash stated he was unaware of any investigation. He described the comment as a 'slip of the tongue' that he immediately corrected. Ash, an economist at RBC BlueBay Asset Management, emphasized that the event he attended in Bodrum was subject to the Chatham House rule. This rule permits the use of information shared during a meeting but prohibits the disclosure of the speaker's identity or that of any other participant.

It was a slip of the tongue that I immediately corrected.

— Timothy AshDescribing his comment to Agence France-Presse.

Ash later posted on X, formerly Twitter, stating he did not intend to offend anyone. He added that Erdogan had bravely defended Gaza and Palestinians, as well as Turkey, and that there was 'no comparison with Netanyahu. Period.' In recent years, thousands of individuals in Turkey, including journalists, artists, and politicians, have faced prosecution for 'insulting the president,' sometimes for past social media posts.

I did not mean to offend anyone at all. Erdogan has bravely defended Gaza and Palestinians, as well as Turkey. There is no comparison with Netanyahu. Period.

— Timothy AshPosted on X (formerly Twitter) after reports of the investigation.
About this summary

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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