The International Press Institute (IPI) continues its efforts to improve the transparency and accountability of institutions by investigating how the Freedom of Information (FoI) is implemented in Türkiye, as part of its ongoing project since April 2024.
IPI first published the results of a survey titled “Habits of Exercising the Right to Information” conducted in September 2024 with the participation of over 50 journalists, civil society organizations (CSOs), and lawyers. Subsequently, in November 2024, a kick-off report based on one-on-one in-depth interviews with journalists and NGO representatives who made FoI requests was published.
Afterwards, the IPI FoI Platform was established to assess how institutions respond to FoI requests submitted by journalists, CSOs, lawyers, academics, and activists. Through this platform, IPI works toward a more transparent and accountable governance by collecting and analyzing data on the responsiveness of public institutions.
As of June 2025, IPI also initiated a training series titled “Freedom of Information: A Powerful Tool for Transparency,” starting in Istanbul and continuing across different cities in Türkiye. These sessions equip journalists, CSOs, activists, and lawyers with practical strategies to exercise FoI effectively in their work. Training announcements can be followed on our website.
In the annual report published on 31 March 2026, IPI analysed 427 FoI requests recorded by users on the IPI FoI Platform and examined how public institutions handled those requests. This report focuses on a subsequent three-month period covering April, May, and June 2026. It analyses 70 requests recorded on the platform during that period, identifies recurring implementation problems through one-on-one interviews with users, and provides an updated assessment together with recommendations.
IPI’s mentorship programme, launched in April 2026, also made a significant contribution to the quality of the data collected during this reporting period. As part of the programme, journalists, working closely with their mentors, submitted several FoI requests in support of ongoing reporting projects and recorded these requests on the IPI FoI Platform. As a result, the platform now includes requests concerning current public-interest issues that formed a direct part of investigative reporting processes.
At the same time, the IPI Legal Advisory Board began its work in April 2026. Composed of lawyers Gökhan Tekşen and Selin Nakıpoğlu, the board provided legal guidance to journalists on issues arising throughout the FoI process. Particular support was provided to participants in the mentorship programme regarding the preparation of FoI requests, the management of appeal procedures, and the assessment of legal issues encountered during the application process. This support contributed both to the more effective use of FoI mechanisms and to the more systematic documentation of implementation challenges.