02.09.2025 23:17
In the case opened for the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress, Özgür Çelik, who was removed from his position as the CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman along with the management, received another piece of bad news. The indictment prepared by the prosecutor regarding the accusation of "manipulating the voting" was accepted at the congress. In the indictment, a prison sentence of up to 3 years is sought for 10 suspects, including Çelik, İnan Güney, and Rıza Akpolat.
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The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office accepted the indictment prepared against 10 suspects, including CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, suspended Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, and former Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, requesting imprisonment of 1 to 3 years for the crime of "manipulating the vote" as per the Political Parties Law.
ÖZGÜR ÇELİK REMOVED ALONG WITH HIS ADMINISTRATION. CHP is experiencing one of its most eventful days in recent months. In the case opened for the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress, the court canceled the congress. While CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik and his administration were removed from their positions, Gürsel Tekin was appointed as the provincial chairman.
INDICTMENT REGARDING THE ISTANBUL PROVINCIAL CONGRESS ACCEPTED Özgür Çelik received another bad news. In a statement made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that an investigation was being conducted regarding the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress upon a tip-off to the prosecutor's office, and the indictment prepared regarding 10 suspects for the crime of "manipulating the vote" as per Article 112 of the Political Parties Law was accepted by the 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance, and a lawsuit was filed.
Özgür Çelik REQUEST FOR CONSOLIDATION FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE The statement noted that within the scope of the investigation, a lawsuit was prepared for consolidation to the Istanbul Civil Court regarding the cancellation of the congress and the decisions made at the congress under the provisions of the Political Parties Law concerning "manipulating the vote" and "conducting elections."
Meanwhile, it was learned that today, the Istanbul 45th Civil Court of First Instance would evaluate the request for consolidation of the indictment prepared by the prosecutor's office regarding the interim decision given for the removal of the president and administration elected at the CHP 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress.
FROM THE INDICTMENT The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that "it was understood that the suspects acted in unity of thought and action by giving money to some delegates and promising to employ relatives of some delegates in CHP municipalities or affiliated enterprises in order to support suspect Özgür Çelik at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress held on October 8, 2023, thereby corrupting the will of some congress delegates and manipulating the election and voting in cooperation with some."
REQUEST FOR PRISON FOR ÖZGÜR ÇELİK The prosecutor's office requested that suspects Özgür Çelik, İnan Güney, Aydın Karaaslan, Fahrettin Çırak, Melda Tanişman Tutan, Niyazi Güneri, Rıza Akpolat, Tülay Yavuz, Uğur Gökdemir, and Veli Gümüş be sentenced to imprisonment of 1 to 3 years under Article 112 of the Political Parties Law, which regulates the crime of "manipulating the vote."
Additionally, in the ongoing case at the Istanbul 45th Civil Court regarding the invalidity of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress due to lack of authority and irregularities, an interim decision was announced. In the interim decision, the court, which evaluated the content of the files, including statement records, title deed records, SGK records, bank responses, and information and documents from other official institutions, concluded that the claims of the plaintiff party went beyond a simple allegation and that the elections held were contrary to the principles of democracy and equality.
The court stated that there was approximately sufficient evidence regarding the influence of delegate wills in exchange for various interests and emphasized that if a precautionary measure was not taken, it would significantly complicate the acquisition of rights and create situations contrary to the essence of the right to vote and be elected.
A TEMPORARY COMMITTEE OF 5 PEOPLE WAS APPOINTED The court decided to temporarily suspend the CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, the principal and substitute members of the board of directors, the principal and substitute members of the disciplinary board, and the upper board and congress delegates from their duties. A 'Temporary Committee' consisting of Gürsel Tekin, Zeki Şen, Hasan Babacan, Müjdat Gürbüz, and Erkan Narsap was appointed to temporarily exercise the powers of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman and Board of Directors. Furthermore, it was decided to temporarily halt the election activities of the 39th Ordinary Congress Process initiated by the decisions taken by Özgür Çelik and the board of directors, concerning only the district congresses and provincial congress election activities to be conducted by the Istanbul provincial organization.
REQUEST FOR CANCELLATION OF CONGRESS DECISIONS WAS REJECTED The court rejected the request of the plaintiff party for the temporary removal of the delegates of the CHP 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress and the request for the temporary suspension of all decisions made at the CHP 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress.
CONGRESS PROCESS HALTED With the decision, it was decided to temporarily halt the election activities of the district congresses and provincial congress to be conducted by the Istanbul Provincial Organization, as per the decision taken by the Central Executive Board of the Republican People's Party on July 14, 2025, regarding the 39th Ordinary Congress process.
ÖZGÜR ÇELİK: CHP IS A FAMILY HOME, IT CANNOT BE TAKEN CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, in his first statement regarding the issue, said, "Dear comrades, my phones are locked. I cannot respond to calls and messages. I am going to the Istanbul Provincial Headquarters to follow and manage the process. The Republican People's Party is the people, it is the home of the people, it is a family home. It cannot be taken."
"WE DID NOT COME TO FIGHT" Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed as the trustee of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairmanship, stated in his announcement, "The decision was just notified. I and four former district chairmen have been appointed. My struggle is to establish unity and integrity. I have no business with the delegate or fighting. We have been seen as impartial. All our efforts will be to resolve the party's legal and internal issues. I will also meet with my General Chairman Özgür Özel and CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik. We did not come to create problems, but to solve them," he stated.
Gürsel Tekin CHP MYK MET IN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION Following the decision to suspend the CHP Istanbul provincial administration, the CHP Central Executive Board convened under the chairmanship of Özgür Özel at 17:00.
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Extraordinary meeting was held at the CHP Headquarters at 00:00.
MINISTER TUNÇ: THE TRIAL PROCESS CONTINUES In a statement regarding the decision, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç said, "The interim decision made by the court is a precautionary measure aimed at preventing irreparable damages that may arise during the trial process and does not constitute a final judgment. The trial process continues," he stated.