Trial begins in Turkey for two Bloomberg journalists

A Turkish court held its first hearing on Friday of a case against two Bloomberg reporters accused of trying to undermine the country’s economic stability.

A Bloomberg News story states, “The action stems from a 2018 story about how authorities and banks were responding to the biggest currency shock in the country since 2001.

“An indictment from a prosecutor was accepted earlier this year requesting a jail term of between two and five years for Kerim Karakaya and Fercan Yalinkilic, the reporters, and 36 other people upon a request from the nation’s banking regulator.

“The other defendants listed in the indictment were charged for social media comments deemed critical of Turkey’s economy and banks.

“Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait said ‘we continue to fully support our two journalists, at today’s hearing and in any future proceedings.’”

Read more here.