Kılıçdaroğlu arrives at Ankara Courthouse: Courtroom being cleared

Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is appearing in court for a trial in which he faces a political ban and a prison sentence of 11 years and 8 months. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş attended the hearing. Ekrem İmamoğlu will not be present as he is abroad.

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Kılıçdaroğlu arrives at Ankara Courthouse: Courtroom being cleared

Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is appearing in court as part of a trial in which he faces a political ban and a request for 11 years and 8 months in prison.

Kılıçdaroğlu arrived in front of the Ankara Courthouse for the hearing. Kılıçdaroğlu is accompanied by Ayşe Ateş, the wife of Sinan Ateş.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş will also stand by Kılıçdaroğlu, who is attending the hearing with his wife and children. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu will not attend the hearing as he will be abroad for a panel in Germany.

Former CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu will attend the hearing on Friday for the case in which he faces a political ban and up to 11 years and 8 months in prison. Kılıçdaroğlu announced his decision via his social media account.

Following Kılıçdaroğlu's announcement that he would attend the hearing, messages of support poured in from many figures, primarily CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş. Kılıçdaroğlu’s wife and children will also attend the hearing.

ÖZEL AND YAVAŞ ANNOUNCED THEY WILL ATTEND THE HEARING

Both Özel and Yavaş announced that they would attend the hearing. Additionally, Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Akın, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, and Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar, who issued statements of support, will also attend the hearing.

İMAMOĞLU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE HEARING

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has traveled to Germany to participate in a panel for "fair democracy." He will not be able to attend Kılıçdaroğlu's hearing because he is abroad. The case in question was opened due to statements made by Kılıçdaroğlu regarding then-Prime Minister Erdoğan during the December 17-25 process. Kılıçdaroğlu's hearing will be held at 14:00 at the 57th Criminal Court of First Instance.