06.08.2026 17:02
Journalist Ertuğrul Özkök gave a statement at the Istanbul Courthouse as part of the investigation launched against him on charges of 'insulting the President' due to his remarks on a YouTube broadcast. Özkök, arguing that there was no intent to insult, said that the prosecutor would make the assessment. His lawyer, on the other hand, stated that the statements should be evaluated in an academic manner.
Journalist Ertuğrul Özkök, who was under investigation on charges of "insulting the President" due to his remarks on a YouTube broadcast, gave his statement at the Istanbul Courthouse. While leaving the courthouse, Özkök said, "Insulting the President is something that would never even cross my mind. The prosecutor asked the questions, we gave our statement, and we left. From now on, our prosecutor will make the assessment."
INVESTIGATION HAD BEEN LAUNCHED
In a statement made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on Sunday evening, it was announced that an investigation had been launched against journalist Ertuğrul Özkök on charges of "insulting the President" by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to some of his remarks during a YouTube broadcast where Bahar Feyzan was a guest.
"SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEVER EVEN CROSS MY MIND"
Stating that he learned the news while abroad, Özkök came to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan with his lawyer at noon today.
Giving his statement within the scope of the investigation, Özkök, when leaving the courthouse, said in response to journalists' questions, "The esteemed prosecutor took our statement. Insulting the President is something that would never even cross my mind. The prosecutor's office asked the questions, we gave our statement, and we left. From now on, our esteemed prosecutor will make the assessment. I have nothing more to say. Because since it has been referred to justice, what comes next is naturally the esteemed prosecutor's assessment."
"ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY..."
In response to the question of whether judicial control provisions had been applied, Özkök's lawyer noted that they had not yet been informed in that regard.
The lawyer also stated, "We are talking about Ertuğrul Özkök. We are talking about an associate professor of sociology. The language he uses, the analogies he makes, should be taken somewhat as social phenomena, academically. You should not assess this as intent, as intent to insult, but rather as a value judgment. We discussed this as well. The prosecutor included it in the statement. Therefore, we thank the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on his behalf."