15.01.2026 16:49
The statement of Derya Çayırgan, who is alleged to be in a relationship with Ekrem İmamoğlu and was detained in the İBB investigation, has emerged. In her statement, Çayırgan described how she met İmamoğlu. She stated that they encountered each other in Taksim and introduced themselves, saying, "We chatted in the crowd. I mentioned that I wanted to visit. One of the people next to him gave me a phone number and said, 'Call from here whenever you want to come.'"
After being arrested, the statement given by İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position, and volleyball player Derya Çayırgan, who is alleged to be in a relationship with him, has emerged as part of the investigation into İBB. In her statement, Çayırgan described how she first met İmamoğlu.
"WE RAN INTO EACH OTHER BY CHANCE IN TAKSIM"
In her statement, Çayırgan noted that her first contact with Ekrem İmamoğlu occurred during the pandemic, saying, "I ran into him while walking in Taksim in 2020 or 2021. I said to him, 'hello Mr. President, how are you?' I mentioned that I was a national volleyball player and that I played for Galatasaray."
After this encounter, Çayırgan explained that she was given a contact number for a visit to his office, stating, "We chatted in the crowd. I said I wanted to visit. One of the people next to him gave me a phone number, saying, 'call from here when you want to come'."
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY AT İBB?"
Çayırgan mentioned that she visited İmamoğlu at the İPA facilities in Florya by making an appointment during the 2022–2023 years, describing the content of the meeting with the following words:
"We talked about sports. He asked me, 'Would you like to play at İBB?' I told him that I couldn't play because they were in a lower league, but I could play if they moved up to a higher league."
"HE ASKED ABOUT MY CAREER PLAN"
Çayırgan stated that İmamoğlu also asked her about her career plans after sports, saying, "He asked me what I would do after my career ended. I told him I didn't have any plans. He asked if I would want to work in İBB's sports management after I retired from volleyball, and I said, 'why not'."