15.04.2026 10:07
Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, in a statement regarding the granted investigation permission, said, 'Recently, inspectors come, examine, and when they cannot find any wrongdoing, they say, 'investigate again.' Let them come! With God's permission, there is no situation we fear from ourselves.'
The investigation permission granted against Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş and 8 municipal employees has caused widespread public reaction. The reason for the investigation is the allegation that municipal resources were used in campaign activities during the 2023 Presidential election process.
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR GRANTED INVESTIGATION PERMISSION
Following the examination by civil inspectors, investigation permission was granted on February 24, 2026, with the signature of Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi. After the decision, the process was officially initiated.
ABB: THE LAW IS BEING STRETCHED
After the decision was reflected in the public, a statement from Ankara Metropolitan Municipality argued that granting investigation permission without concrete evidence is against the law. The statement included the expressions, "Granting investigation permission without any concrete evidence is stretching the law."
In the statement, which used the expressions, "Even during election periods, sensitivity has been shown not to use public resources; Mansur Yavaş did not even receive his mayoral salary during the campaign process. A clear distinction has been ensured between public resources and political activities," it was said, "Indeed, when this issue came up on a television program, to avoid any doubt, the matter was referred for inspection by himself, and no findings were encountered in the examinations conducted."
STRONG REACTION FROM YAVAŞ: LET THEM COME AND SEE
After the investigation permission, Mansur Yavaş, speaking to Nefes Newspaper writer Aytunç Erkin, reacted to the process. Yavaş stated that they would apply to the Council of State and announced that he would hold a press conference on Thursday.
In his statement, Yavaş said, "They say there is no relevance, but there is an understanding of 'let's try anyway.' We are applying to the Council of State. On Thursday, I will explain all the details, who the Interior Minister said what to, with documents."
Expressing that inspections towards the municipality have increased recently, Yavaş used the expressions, "Inspectors come, examine, and when they cannot find any negativity, they say 'examine once more.' Let them come and see. There is no situation we are afraid of."
In the continuation of his statement, Yavaş said, "Everyone sees this double standard. It shouldn't be like this in the state."