03.06.2026 20:40
Republican People's Party (CHP) Kilis Provincial Chairman Umut Mehmet Sapan, who was arrested as part of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's investigation into the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress and subsequently released, announced his resignation from his post one day after leaving prison. Sapan stated that he was left alone by the party headquarters during the process.
Umut Mehmet Sapan, the Provincial Head of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in Kilis, who was arrested and then released as part of an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress, announced his resignation from his post.
Sapan, who was released after 11 days of detention, stated in a written statement one day after his release that the judicial process he experienced had significant effects on him and his family.
"THE HEADQUARTERS DID NOT SHOW THE NECESSARY ATTENTION AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS"
Citing family reasons and ongoing health issues, Sapan expressed that he concluded it was not possible to continue his role as CHP Kilis Provincial Head. Sapan also noted that the party headquarters did not show the necessary attention and support throughout the process, leaving him feeling abandoned. Announcing his resignation based on these reasons, Sapan thanked his family, Kilis Mayor Hakan Bilecen, party members, and citizens who supported him throughout the process.
"I MUST UNFORTUNATELY STATE THAT I WAS LEFT ALONE"
In his statement, Sapan said, "My esteemed fellow citizens and dear party members. As you know, from May 23 until today, I experienced a difficult judicial process and remained detained for 11 days. As a result, following the acceptance of our objections to the detention decision, justice prevailed as of yesterday and I was released. Thank God, from the beginning of this process, I always had the same phrase on my lips. I never consumed or allowed others to consume what is forbidden. At this point, due to my family reasons and ongoing health issues, I have concluded that continuing the Provincial Head role is impossible at this stage, also upon the advice of my loved ones. I must also unfortunately state that our party headquarters did not show the necessary attention and support throughout the process, and I was left alone. For these reasons, I am resigning from my position as the Republican People's Party Kilis Provincial Head. I extend my thanks one by one to my beloved family, above all, who never left me alone during this process, to our mayor and dear friend Hakan Bilecen, to our valuable party members, and to all my fellow citizens who believed that justice would prevail as soon as possible."