Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) has initiated an inquiry into six opposition TV channels for allegedly “insulting the public” in their coverage of Sunday’s presidential election runoff. The RTUK announced the investigation on Tuesday following viewer complaints, although the specific nature of the alleged insults was not disclosed.
During the second round of the election, President Tayyip Erdogan secured an extension to his two-decade rule. While his opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, described the election as “the most unfair in years,” he did not contest the outcome.
This is not the first time RTUK has taken action against television stations for their election coverage. In March, four channels were penalized. Critics, including international rights organizations and Turkish opposition parties, have accused RTUK of using its power to stifle opposition media, suggesting a close association with the government.
Turkey’s ranking in the press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders last year was 153 out of 180, indicating a significant level of government control over the media.
