Turkey has implemented a series of precautions in order to reduce the risk of contamination of COVID-19 virus.

On March 13, 2020, the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (“The Council”) issued a communiqué addressed to the District Courts of Appeal, District Administrative Courts of Appeal, Courts of First Instance and the Public Prosecutors’ Offices.

The Council;

• referred to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) announcement of pandemic and the recommendations of the Turkish Coronavirus Scientific Council established by the Ministry of Health,
• proposed the Courts to postpone all hearings and discoveries, except for the matters concerning the detention and urgent matters,
• proposed to use the SEGBIS system (Online Sound and Video Information System) for the hearings, where applicable.

Based on this communication, the courts, including the specialized IP Civil and Criminal Courts, Regional Appellate Courts and the Supreme Court have decided to postpone the hearings and discoveries which were scheduled to March 2020 to a later date in 2020.

IMPORTANT: Although the hearings/discoveries which are scheduled to March 2020 are being adjourned to a later date, the Courts are still operating and other deadlines concerning the Turkish Procedural Laws continue to be valid.

We are closely following the developments and taking all precautions to effectively protect our clients' rights and interests in Turkey.