17.02.2025 13:20
In the context of the expert investigation, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who faces up to 4 years in prison and a political ban, stated, "Erdoğan is behind all of this. The name of the person trying to sideline me in politics is clear." The first response from the Presidency to İmamoğlu's remarks came exactly 56 minutes later. Communication Director Fahrettin Altun used striking expressions.
The investigation against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul, regarding the allegation of attempting to influence the judicial process by targeting the expert assigned in some investigations, has been completed. The prepared indictment requests a prison sentence of up to 4 years for İmamoğlu and a political ban.
İMAMOĞLU: I INVITE HIM TO THE BALLOT BOX
In a statement regarding the development, İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "Erdoğan is behind all of this. The name of the person trying to eliminate me from politics is clear. Mr. President. I invite him to the ring, to the ballot box, like a Kasımpaşalı. He should stop playing footsie through the judiciary with Byzantine games."
RESPONSE FROM THE PRESIDENCY 56 MINUTES LATER
The first response to İmamoğlu's "challenge" came exactly 56 minutes later from the Presidency. Communication Director Fahrettin Altun commented, "The continuous attempt by opposition politicians to associate ongoing legal processes, which have been referred to our independent judicial bodies, with our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is both a great slander against our President and an effort to obstruct the judicial processes."
"TRYING TO DISPARAGE OUR PRESIDENT WITH THESE SLANDERS..."
In his statement, Altun said, "Those who, because they have not a shred of service to the nation in their bags, slander and insult everyone in front of them, and who have made it a habit to occupy the agenda with various delusions to hide their dirty political calculations and relationships, should know that..."
Altun added, "Trying to tarnish our President, whose political life and struggle approaches half a century, with such slanders will gain you nothing, nor will it gain our nation anything. We would like to remind you as an unforgettable lesson that our nation has made its choice in the 2023 elections, and the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan you are positioned against has clearly defeated you all at the ballot box. We advise those who direct nonsensical accusations at a politician who has dedicated himself to serving the nation and works day and night for this cause, and a leader who has fought all his struggles together with his people, to thoroughly read and understand Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and ultimately to see the truth and turn back from these mistakes."