First hearing date set for the case regarding alleged irregularities at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress: Up to 3 years in prison requested

The first hearing of the case filed at the Istanbul 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance regarding alleged irregularities at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress will be held on January 6, 2026.

The case for the annulment of the congress, which involves the removal of CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik and the Istanbul Provincial Administration from office and the appointment of Gürsel Tekin as a trustee in their place, will be heard at the 41st Civil Court of First Instance on October 3, 2025.

While investigations and operations targeting CHP-run municipalities, primarily the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), continue, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik and the provincial administration were removed from office by a court decision yesterday (September 2).

Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed as the Istanbul Provincial Chair to replace Çelik, has been expelled from the CHP. Özgür Özel, who held an extraordinary meeting of the Central Executive Board yesterday, summoned his party's provincial chairs to Istanbul today for an evaluation meeting. While CHP members who started a vigil at the Istanbul provincial headquarters stated, "We will resist the trustee, we will not let them in," Gürsel Tekin shared the message, "We have started our duty."

UP TO 3 YEARS IN PRISON REQUESTED FOR ÖZGÜR ÇELİK AND 9 PARTY OFFICIALS

The Istanbul 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance has assigned a case number to the indictment regarding the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress, which seeks up to 3 years in prison for 10 officials, including the removed CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat. The preliminary procedural report is expected to be prepared shortly. In parallel, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has also prepared a request for the case to be merged with the case in which CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik and the provincial administration were removed from office.

An investigation was launched on March 4 regarding the election at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress. It was alleged that "the election was rigged and the election law was violated."

In a statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was said, "Our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated investigation proceedings regarding allegations of rigging and violation of the election law during the recent CHP Istanbul Provincial congress elections."

An indictment was prepared seeking 1 to 3 years in prison for 10 people, including CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, on the grounds that "the voting was rigged" in the CHP Istanbul election.

FIRST HEARING ON JANUARY 6, 2026

According to journalist İsmail Saymaz, the first hearing of the case filed at the Istanbul 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance regarding alleged irregularities at the CHP provincial congress will be held on January 6, 2026.

Based on the same indictment, the court filed an application with the 41st Civil Court of First Instance for the annulment of the congress.

The 41st Civil Court of First Instance merged its own file with the file at the 45th Civil Court of First Instance, which issued the annulment decision yesterday.

The first hearing of this case will be held on October 3, 2025.

News Source: 12punto