Indictment says 'Kars is Ours' slogan was a crime

The slogan "Kars ya me ye" (Kars is ours) was considered a crime in the indictment prepared against 17 people, protesting against the AKP government's appointment of a trustee to the HDP-run municipality of Kars.

An indictment was prepared against 17 people who joined the protest held in the city on 10 October 2020 against the appointment of a trustee to the HDP-run municipality of Kars.

Protesters are accused of violating the “assemblies and demonstrations law”.

The indictment said that the slogans "Kars Ya Me Ye" and "The will of the people of Kars are Ayhan Bilgen and Şevin Alaca", "The trustee is a coup" and "We don’t recognize the trustee, we are not afraid, we won’t keep silent, we won’t obey" were also part of the criminal actions contested.

The indictment was accepted by the Kars 1st Criminal Court of First Instance, and the first hearing date was set for 23 December 2021.