Prosecutors in İstanbul filed criminal charges against two executives from the country’s leading business group after they criticized government policies in the wake of growing pressure on the opposition in the country, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Friday.
The indictment targets Orhan Turan, chairman of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD), and the head of TÜSİAD’s advisory council, Ömer Arif Aras.
At TÜSİAD’s monthly general assembly on February 13, the group broke its long silence about what many call a democratic backsliding in the country and the erosion of the rule of law, in a move that attracted the government’s anger and led to the brief detention of the two businessmen.
Turan and Aras talked about mounting economic and political risks in the country and pointed to rising government intervention in the private sector, executive control over the judiciary and worsening economic hardship.
They said judicial investigations into opposition political figures create concern in society and damage democracy.
The two businessmen were taken into custody on February 20 on accusations of “attempting to influence judiciary” and “publicly spreading false information.” They were escorted by police to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, where they were questioned for hours before being released under a travel ban.
The detentions came after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly lashed out at the business group for its criticism of the rule of law and economic management in the country.
The newly drafted indictment against Turan and Aras charges them with “publicly spreading false information.” They face a prison sentence of up to five years.
A statement from the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said on Friday that the investigation into the two TÜSİAD executives on accusations of “attempting to influence judiciary” is continuing.
Opposition politicians have faced a series of investigations, detentions and arrests in what critics say is a government effort to muzzle dissent and hurt their electoral prospects.
The Turkish government dismisses accusations of political interference in the cases and claims the judiciary is independent.