Kılıçdaroğlu's case dismissed!

A final verdict has been reached in the case opened against former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu following his statements regarding former minister Erdoğan Bayraktar in the context of the December 17-25 operations.

The court ruled for the dismissal of the case concerning Kılıçdaroğlu's remarks. This decision came as the result of a long legal process.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

During the December 17-25 bribery and corruption operations, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had used the term 'thief' for the then-Minister of Environment and Urbanization, Erdoğan Bayraktar, during a press conference.

Following the lifting of Kılıçdaroğlu's parliamentary immunity, a prison sentence of one year and 2 months to 2 years and 4 months was requested for the crime of "publicly insulting a public official due to their duty."

The prosecutor, noting that Kılıçdaroğlu had called Bayraktar a "thief" in the presence of members of the press at the time of the incident, pointed out that Kılıçdaroğlu's words did not fall within the scope of "freedom of thought and freedom of expression."

KILIÇDAROĞLU: THERE IS NO AMNESTY FROM ME FOR THIEVES

Former minister Bayraktar, in a statement to Odatv, stated that it was not he who opened the case but his lawyer, whom he had given power of attorney, and that he had wanted to drop the case at the time, but Kılıçdaroğlu did not accept this. Bayraktar said, "When this issue came up a year and a half ago, we submitted a petition to drop the case, stating that we did not want such a lawsuit." However, Bayraktar claimed that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had made such an attempt at the time to boost his own charisma, noting that Kılıçdaroğlu had used rhetoric such as 'there is no amnesty from me for thieves'.

"I AM NOT A COMPLAINANT"

Bayraktar stated that he and Kılıçdaroğlu were on good terms outside of this case, saying, "Actually, he likes me, and I like him," and emphasized that he wanted to drop the case again. Bayraktar said, "Perhaps the Chairman will accept our withdrawal this time," and announced that he was ready to fulfill any procedure to drop the case on his behalf, for which a sentence was being requested for Kılıçdaroğlu. Stating that the case might have now turned into a public prosecution, Bayraktar also noted that he was no longer a complainant.