While stripping specially authorized Erzurum Prosecutor Osman Şanal of his authority, the HSYK also divested another specially authorized prosecutor in Erzurum, Tarık Gür, and public prosecutors Rasim Karakullukçu and Mehmet Yazıcı of their authority. The board also decided to file criminal complaints against Gür, Karakullukçu, Yazıcı, Şanal and Sinan Kuş, the chief prosecutor in Erzurum.
“I believe that a comprehensive judicial reform is vital for Turkey’s modernization process,” Oomen-Ruijten told Today’s Zaman over the weekend, recalling that she made the same call to the Turkish government in the European Parliament progress report on Turkey which was adopted earlier this month.
“In addition, and particularly by referring to the HSYK, I emphasized that the aforementioned board should be restructured to ensure its representativeness, objectiveness, impartiality and transparency,” Oomen-Ruijten added.
The rapporteur said the progress report on Turkey called on the country to regard the ongoing investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine organization whose suspected members are currently standing trial on charges of having plotted to overthrow the government, as an opportunity to strengthen confidence in the proper functioning of its democratic institutions and the rule of law.
“However, developments in the last few days are not in a direction which strengthens confidence,” Oomen-Ruijten said, reflecting her disappointment over the HSYK decisions, which cast doubt on the impartiality and independence of the judiciary.
