Release of Ergenekon suspects "result of Turkey’s democratization"

ANKARA 

By M. Bilal Kenasari

The releases of  "Ergenekon" suspects from jail may give the impression that they are free, but they are only out on bail because their "period of pretrial detention has been decreased from ten to five years,” İlhan Uzulmez, Law Professor at Gazi University, Ankara, said.

The "Ergenekon" trials started in July 2008 when 275 people including military personnel, journalists, and academics were accused of plotting against Turkey's Justice and Development government. 

Last week Turkey’s court ordered the release of 19 of the men under suspicion of plotting the coup, days after ex-military chief Ilker Basbug was freed.

The European Court of Human Rights had suggested to Turkey that it shorten the pretrial detention period and “the change in the law is Turkey understanding and agreeing with the European Court of Human Rights recommendations,” Uzulmez said.

He added that this reduction in the pretrial detention period is the result of the democratization process in Turkey and that the freedom of the individual is essential and if possible the suspect should not be detained while awaiting trial.

One of the key suspects in the 2007 Zirve Publishing House case, when two Christians were tied to chairs and tortured at the publishing house, has also benefitted from the reduction in the pre-trial dentation period as it has been seven years since the case began and therefore the suspect has been released on bail pending trial.

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