31.01.2025 09:00
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu will give a statement today as part of two separate investigations regarding the "threat" against Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek and the allegation that he attempted to influence those performing their judicial duties by "targeting" expert witnesses. Following the calls from the CHP, crowds began to gather in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse, while the police took extensive security measures in the area.
The Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), Ekrem İmamoğlu, will give a statement today as part of two separate investigations regarding the allegations that Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek was 'threatened' and that he attempted to influence the judiciary by 'targeting' expert witnesses involved in some investigations.
POLITICAL PARTIES WILL SHOW SOLIDARITY
Various opposition parties will support İmamoğlu's statement. CHP, İYİ Party, DEM Party, and the Future Party will gather in front of the courthouse to show solidarity with İmamoğlu.
İMAMOĞLU HAD CALLED FOR ÇAĞLAYAN
İmamoğlu had made a statement on his social media account yesterday regarding the statement process. İmamoğlu said, "Our party has set out to put an end to this bad trend. The only way to escape this bottoming out is elections. Early elections. For this reason, our General Chairman Mr. Özgür Özel has initiated a very democratic process to determine a presidential candidate for our party. I strongly support this decision of our party. We must all unite our strengths in this process."
"THE STATEMENTS OF MILLIONS WHO THINK LIKE ME WILL BE TAKEN"
I will be at Çağlayan Courthouse in the morning. I will give my statement because I want the judiciary to be independent and for everyone to be able to trust in justice. But tomorrow, it will not only be me giving a statement. Statements will be taken from tens of millions of our citizens who think like me. The ballot box comes, and everyone will take measure of themselves. I will not turn back from this path," he had stated.
ÖZEL'S CALL: I INVITE PARTY MEMBERS TO GIVE STATEMENTS
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had also made a call. In a statement he made yesterday, Özel said, "Tomorrow, as you know, Ekrem İmamoğlu has been called to give a statement. Ekrem İmamoğlu, as a mayor from Trabzon, is not called as Ekrem Bey, the son of Uncle Hasan; he is called as the trustworthy person of the city that all of Istanbul has entrusted to manage 'without stealing, without wasting, and with fairness.' Tomorrow, the one called to give a statement is Istanbul itself. First and foremost, it is the members of the Republican People's Party. But it is all democrats. Everyone who voted for Ekrem İmamoğlu, those who are considering voting for him in the future, or anyone who feels the injustice done to him as done to themselves is the guarantee of this country's future. Therefore, I invite Istanbul to give a statement tomorrow. I invite the members of the Republican People's Party to give statements," he had said.