Aydın Engin writes about the recent developments in Turkey in a letter addressed to Hrant Dink.

European Commission released 2016 Progress Report, which includes severe criticisms against Turkey. Released on November 9, the Report is considered as the most negative report about Turkey so far.

As part of Dink case, Ahmet İlhan Güler, who was the chief of Istanbul Security Directorate Intelligence Branch at the time of murder, is answering the questions in the court. He claimed that he wasn't informed of the threats against Hrant Dink. He defined the protests targeting Dink as “democratic protests”.

Ahmet İlhan Güler, who was the chief of Istanbul Security Directorate Intelligence Branch at the time of murder, presented his defence. He claimed that he didn't have the authority to order protection and accused the personnel of Trabzon Security Directorate. He said, “I am defending the state.”

Trial of the public officials as part of Dink case continues today. Before the 7th hearing that will be held on November 7, 8, 10 and 11, Friends of Hrant made a statement to the press in front of the court house.

HDP Diyarbakir MP Nursel Aydoğan, Şırnak MP Leyla Birlik, Diyarbakir MP and Group Deputy Chair İdris Baluken have been arrested.

Protests are staged in Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir and Antalya, after HDP MPs have been detained. The security forces attacked the protesters.

HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ and HDP MPs Ferhat Encü, Selma Irmak, Abdullah Zeydan, İdris Baluken, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Ziya Pir, Nursel Aydoğan and Gülser Yıldırım have been detained in operations around midnight.

Russia declared that there will be a “humanitarian pause” in Aleppo on November 4 between 9 am and 7 pm local time.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi spoke about Turkey's military dispatch to Iraqi border: “We don't want to wage war against Turkey. If a country fights against its neighbor, no party would win; both sides would end up losing.”

Academic staff of Boğaziçi University protested the abolition of the rectoral election.

After the arrest of Co-Mayors of Diyarbakir Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı, who were elected by getting 55% of the votes in 2014, a trustee is assigned to Diyarbakir Municipality.

Saturday Mothers: “Stand in solidarity with Cumhuriyet today. Or else they will come and knock on your door tomorrow.”

With the most recent emergency decrees, 10,158 civil servants and 1267 academics have been sacked, rectoral elections are abolished and 15 media organs including DİHA and Azadiya Welat are shut down

3000 kilometers along the Caucasus mountains, three countries and a long way passing through them... Transcaucasian Trail Association (TCTA), a Washington-based initiative, embarked to build one of the longest hiking routes in the world. The association is working with local partners for this hiking route, which is planned to pass through Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. They want to improve ecotourism, create an exciting route for the hikers and provide a different perspective to Caucasus countries which seem like they will never come to terms because of the border conflicts. We talked to Vahagn Vardumyan, a member of Armenia team, about the project.

Lawyer Erkan Metin is contact with the region and following the developments closely. We talked to him about Syriacs' role in the Mosul operation, the current situation and the criticism in the statement of Platform Turbadin (Syriac Intellectuals and Activists Discussion Group).

Mosul and the National Pact(Misak-ı Milli) became a topic of discussion once again. Recently, President Erdoğan said, “Mosul was ours. Read some history. Some people got disturbed because I mentioned the National Pact. Why do you feel disturbed by my history lessons? We are patriotic, that is why.” This statement made the issue a current debate once again. Prof. Dr. Baskın Oran from Ankara University Political Science Department is one of the most knowledgeable scholars concerning Mosul and the National Pact. We spoke to Oran about the course of these two issues throughout the history of republic and their reflections to the present day.

“Aghet” concert in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, which was planned to be performed in Istanbul, is canceled by German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Diyarbakir Municipality released a statement on the police raid. It is stated that the state should respect the will of people and the co-mayors should be released immediately.