Turkish Authorities Seize Armenian Journalist Hayko Bagdat’s Passport

ISTANBUL (Agos) — While many people from various institutions and organizations have been detained after the coup attempt on July 15, the operation towards journalists also continues. Tens of journalists have been detained and passports of many journalists have been seized.

Most recently, Armenian journalist Hayko Bagdat’s passport was seized by police officers, when he arrived at the airport on the evening of August 6.

Hayko Bagdat stated that the police officers hadn’t provided any information regarding the reason of seizure. Speaking to Agos, Bagdat said: “They have seized my passport without any reason. They said, ‘You will find out within a couple of days.’ HDP MP Garo Paylan and CHP MP Selina Dogan will bring this issue to the parliamentary agenda and my lawyer will investigate the reason. This is a kind of ban on leaving the country.”

Speaking to Agos, CHP Istanbul MP and a member of parliament’s EU Harmonization Committee Selina Dogan stated that the police said that the passports of almost all journalists have been canceled after July 15 as a precaution.

Stating that she spoke to the officials from the security directorate after journalist Hayko Bagdat’s passport was seized at the airport, Dogan said: “The officials said that passports of some journalists have been started to be issued after the investigations are completed and there is no problem with Hayko Bagdat. Due to some problems in correspondences, his passport was seized but he might get it back this evening.”