Political Murder Hits Risk Perceptions

February 2007 | Ratings Update

The murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in late-January highlighted EU concerns regarding the strength of ultra-nationalism within Turkey. Although worrying trends exist - and may be exacerbated should Kurdish northern Iraq secede or strengthen its autonomy in relation to the central Iraqi government - the murder, in itself, does not constitute a threat to Turkey's political risk profile. There was no evidence of collusion by state security services; the perpetrator and his co-conspirators were soon apprehended; and the government was quick to condemn the crime. That said, the issue refocused attention on Article 301 of the constitution, which criminalises criticism of the Turkish state and which is incompatible with EU law.

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