Turkish court imposes international travel ban on Hrant Dink’s assassin Ogün Samast

A Turkish court has imposed an international travel ban on Ogün Samast, Armenian journalist Hrant Dink’s assassin, who is facing charges of “Committing a crime on behalf of an armed terrorist organization without being a member of it.” Last month, Samast was released on parole for “good behavior” after serving 16 years and 10 months in prison.

Wednesday December 06 2023 10:19 pm

Photo: AA

Duvar English

An Istanbul court on Dec. 6 imposed an international travel ban on Ogün Samast, the assassin of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

The decision was taken in the latest hearing of the lawsuit where Samast is facing up to 12 years in prison for “committing a crime on behalf of an armed terrorist organization without being its member.”

The move came after Samast was released on Nov. 15 from the Bolu F Type Prison on parole for “good behavior” after serving 16 years and 10 months.

Editor of bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos and Turkey’s best known Armenian voice abroad, Hrant Dink was shot in broad daylight as he left his Istanbul office in January 2007.

His killer Samast was 17 when the killing took place. He was sentenced by a juvenile court to an aggravated life in prison but it was reduced by one-third due to his age. At last, he was sentenced to 22 years and 10 months in prison in total.

His release for “good behavior” stirred a huge reaction as opposition politicians and human rights activities stated that political and sick prisoners have not usually been released on parole for “good behavior.”

Two days after his release, a new indictment was prepared against Samast for “committing a crime on behalf of an armed terrorist organization without being its member” regarding Dink’s assassination.