Necati Özkan rebels against espionage accusations: 'Enough is enough, it's a shame'

In the morning hours, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into several individuals, including the imprisoned presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, campaign director Necati Özkan, and TELE 1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ, on charges of 'espionage'.

While it was stated that the testimonies of the imprisoned İmamoğlu and Necati Özkan, who managed his election campaigns, would be sought, Merdan Yanardağ was taken into custody.

ÖZKAN'S RESPONSE TO THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM

Necati Özkan, who served as İmamoğlu's campaign director during the 2019 local elections that are the subject of the investigation, responded to the 'espionage' charges against him from prison.

Pointing out that the timing of the operation was suspicious, Özkan made the following statement regarding allegations that he was in contact with Hüseyin Gün, who is currently imprisoned as part of the investigation:

"This morning, while watching the TV channels in my cell in Kandıra, I witnessed news of a new, untruthful, nonsensical operation based on a lapse of reason, in which my name was mentioned. The timing of the operation was suspicious.

Although the 'Information Note' distributed by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, as shared by media members, does not contain a direct accusation against me, the fact that my name was announced to the public as being involved in such a serious accusation and operation without me being asked for any testimony is not only a new attempt at an unlawful character assassination, but also proof that the investigating authority is prejudiced and lacks impartiality."

"NONE OF THE CORRESPONDENCE BELONGS TO ME"

"It is absolutely unacceptable that my personal reputation, which I have meticulously built over my 42-year career, and my spotless, honorable name are being attempted to be tarnished with an accusation like 'espionage'. My only contact with the person I learned from today's news was arrested on espionage charges was a meeting requested by him after the 2019 local elections under the pretext that he had social media analysis software and wanted to market it; this meeting resulted in nothing. I have had no contact with him in any way since that meeting," said Özkan, continuing his statement from the Kandıra No. 2 F-Type Prison in Kocaeli:

"None of the correspondence attributed to me through forced interpretation belongs to me. At no point in my life have I used such an application, nor have I engaged in such correspondence with the alleged person.

I invite those who use public power and those responsible for ensuring justice to act responsibly, with seriousness, and to respect the law and my right not to be stigmatized. Enough is enough. It's a shame!

I respectfully announce to the public that I am ready to answer any questions regarding this unserious, untrue, and absurd allegation, and that I am waiting for the questions to be asked with curiosity, seriousness, and impatience.

Winning an election is not a crime. Doing your job with passion is not a sin."