Suspect in Hrant Dink Murder Extradited from Kyrgyzstan

The suspect in the conspiracy to murder Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink has been arrested and extradited from Kyrgyzstan, according to the government-affiliated Daily Sabah.

The suspect is only identified by the initials A.I. and has already been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison. According to Daily Sabah, Turkish intelligence services became aware that A.I. was hiding in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, which prompted them to seek assistance from local authorities.

Turkish authorities announced the arrest and extradition on Sunday; however, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that the Kyrgyz authorities detained the suspect on March 4. He was apprehended on February 26 with a fake passport and driver’s license.

Dink was the editor of the Armenian-language newspaper Agos in Istanbul when he was shot outside his office on January 19, 2007. Ogun Samast fired three shots at Dink's head from close range. The Turkish ultranationalist Samast was found guilty of Dink's murder in 2011 and sentenced to 22 years in prison, but questions remain about the alleged involvement of state security forces.

Despite the arrests and convictions in Dink's case, his family is convinced that much more needs to be uncovered regarding the journalist's assassination. Some of those arrested in connection with Dink’s murder were members of Turkish security services, but Turkish prosecutors claim that his murder is linked to supporters of Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen. Gülen has been accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in July 2016, though he denies any connection to that action.