Criminal complaint against Patriarch Bartholomew filed by former Turkish official

Istanbul, March 12, 2026

Photo: ​​mecc.org Photo: ​​mecc.org     

A former senior Turkish defense official has filed a criminal complaint against Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and dozens of Patriarchate clergy.

The complaint, filed by Ümit Yalım, a former Secretary-General of the Turkish Ministry of Defense, accuses the Patriarchate of engaging in illegal activities connected to Greece’s presence on several islands in the Eastern Aegean, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.

Yalım specifically names the islets of Agathonisi, Marathi, Arkioi, and Farmakonisi, claiming they fall administratively under the Turkish province of Aydın. His claims are based on his interpretation of the Treaty of Lausanne, the 1923 agreement that established the current borders between Greece and Turkey.

The complaint also targets the Halki Theological Seminary, which Yalım describes as an illegal educational institution operating in violation of international agreements. The seminary, located on Halki island near Istanbul, has been closed since 1971 following a decision by the Turkish government. Its reopening has long been a standing demand of the Orthodox Church and has been raised at the international level, including in reports by the Council of Europe.

The Turkish government hasn’t issued any official statement regarding the complaint.

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3/12/2026

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