Full support from Özgür Özel to Tunç Soyer: 'I will not sell out any of my brothers'

Following the detention of former mayor Tunç Soyer and 130 others as part of a 'corruption' investigation into the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made statements in front of the party's İzmir Provincial Headquarters. Özel stated that he would closely follow the investigation process regarding Soyer.

WARNING: "DO NOT LET İZMİR ACT LIKE İSTANBUL"

Emphasizing justice and equality in judicial processes, Özel continued his remarks as follows: 

"No local administrator is exempt from prosecution, provided that they are tried fairly and without being remanded in custody. We know the practices of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. If the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor continues with the same attitude, we will give them the necessary response."

REACTION TO THE CLAIM THAT "TUNÇ SOYER WILL NOT FLEE"

Responding to certain allegations regarding the investigation, Özel said:

"Tunç Soyer is not someone who would flee. The events being focused on date back several years. There is no account they cannot provide. We are on the second day of the process; the first day did not go well. Former mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu was tried on 33 separate charges but was not convicted. There is no account that cannot be given in İzmir's political culture."

"DO NOT BELIEVE THE CLAIMS OF ERDOĞAN'S TROLLS"

Addressing claims that he did not support Soyer, Özel reacted sharply, stating, "Erdoğan's trolls are having these things written; they think that because Tunç Soyer did not support me at the party congress, I will not stand by him. We have competition, but the law of brotherhood is not harmed. Tunç Soyer is my brother, and I stand with him."