ETYGEN MAHCUPYAN, THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH WEEKLY AGOS, SPOKE TO DER SPIEGEL ABOUT THE TRIAL OF THE ALLEGED KILLERS OF HIS PREDECESSOR HRANT DINK.
Interview conducted by Annette Grossbongardt

DER SPIEGEL
10 July 07

Etyen Mahcupyan replaced murdered journalist Hrant Dink as
editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos.

The Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was gunned down on Jan. 19
this year. Now, six months later, the trial of his alleged killer and
17 other suspects has started. The trial is being carried out behind
closed doors because the accused gunman, Ogun Samast, is a minor.

Dink was hated by ultranationalists for describing the mass killing
of Armenians in the early part of the 20th century as genocide. He was
prosecuted for his comments under Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code,
which bans insults to Turkish identity.

Critics have accused the authorities of failing to act on reports of a
plot to kill Dink. Two of the suspects, Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel,
even claim they were working for the security forces. The current
case is seen as an important test of whether the Turkish judiciary
is capable of investigating claims of official negligence.

DER SPIEGEL spoke to Etyen Mahcupyan, Dink’s successor as
editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos about the trial.

SPIEGEL: The trial against Dink’s alleged 17-year-old murderer and
his accomplices has started. But now the investigation is to be
continued. Were there other people involved?

Etyen Mahcupyan: This type of attack must have been prepared by a
bigger network than just the gang that is currently on trial. There
had to be political connections, people who pulled strings, paid
money or laid the ideological groundwork. So far only two members of
the nationalist Great Unity Party (BBP) have been charged.

SPIEGEL: One of the accused claims that they were controlled by a
group within the police force.

Mahcupyan: A number of police officers knew what was going to
happen. But they didn’t prevent the murder. Were they acting of their
own accord, or did someone give them orders? That is unclear.

People demonstrate near the court in Istanbul where the Dink murder
trial is being held.

SPIEGEL: What was the perpetrator’s motive?

Mahcupyan: There is a link here between ultra-nationalism and criminal
gangs. The aim was probably to cause unrest in the election year
with the intention of torpedoing Turkey’s chances of joining the
European Union.

Presumably a whole series of attacks was planned, but the public
reaction was too strong to go ahead with them.

SPIEGEL: In general, politically motivated crimes are seldom solved
in Turkey. Will it be different this time?

Mahcupyan: In the past the judges were usually afraid to take
risks. None of them wanted to expose the links between the military,
the government and the judiciary. But in this case there is the
potential to really get to the bottom of things. The judges are
flexible and are working with the lawyers.

SPIEGEL: You are Dink’s successor as editor-in-chief at Agos. Are
you and your colleagues still being threatened?

Mahcupyan: Yes, but that is the usual hatred that we have to face. The
Armenian community and their patriarch often receive threats from
the nationalists as well.

SPIEGEL: Dink was pulled up before judges on several occasions because
of his articles. Have you also been hampered in your work?

Mahcupyan: Not at the moment, but if it were politically desired then
someone could find an old article and file charges. I have already
been put on trial for allegedly insulting state institutions.