The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today welcomed a ruling by Turkey’s Constitutional Court blocking closer government control over the state-owned Anadolu news agency (AA). The ruling was published on February 24, 2021.

AA is a state-run news agency established in 1920 with the purpose of conveying accurate and contemporary news and information collected from its local and international web of news correspondents and disseminated to its press and broadcast subscribers. In 1925, it was separated from the state structure and transformed into a private legal entity to ensure the autonomy and impartiality of the news agency, which are also guaranteed by Article 133 of the constitution. Although the State Treasury is the largest shareholder, its shares have never exceeded 50 percent to preserve the agency’s autonomy. However, the agency’s main source of revenue is an allowance from the government, which is currently taken from the budget of the presidential office. This has had a negative influence on AA’s autonomy.