Journalist Ardıl Batmaz was battered by officials while covering the visit of former Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum in Elazığ on 26 April 2022.

An indictment regarding the beating of journalist Batmaz was prepared by the Elazığ Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, demanding that AKP Mayor Şahin Şerifoğulları's bodyguard police be punished for "simple injury" and be "deprived of exercising certain rights".

The bodyguard police made a statement in the indictment, claiming that journalist Batmaz did not show his press card, and said that he did not make any physical intervention and acted in accordance with the requirements of his duty.

The trial of the protection police officer will begin tomorrow at the Elazığ 5th Criminal Court of First Instance.