Koray Aydın speaks to 12punto: Ayhan Bora Kaplan's associate took the parliamentary podium with Akşener's approval

Former IYI Party leader Meral Akşener had filed a complaint against journalists Özlem Gürses and Ersin Eroğlu, who revealed that the person she allowed to speak at the parliamentary podium was Erkan Yıldırım, a suspect in the Ayhan Bora Kaplan case. In her complaint petition, Akşener claimed that the person who took the podium was determined upon the suggestion of Koray Aydın. Speaking to 12punto, Koray Aydın stated that the person to take the podium was determined with Akşener's approval.

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Koray Aydın speaks to 12punto: Ayhan Bora Kaplan's associate took the parliamentary podium with Akşener's approval

Ersin Eroğlu / 12punto EXCLUSIVE

Former IYI Party Chairman Meral Akşener had filed a complaint against journalists Özlem Gürses and Ersin Eroğlu, who revealed that the person she gave the floor to at the parliamentary group meeting was Erkan Yıldırım, a suspect in the Ayhan Bora Kaplan criminal organization file.

The political connections of the Ayhan Bora Kaplan file were revealed in the "Kayıt Dışı" (Off the Record) program dated May 20, 2024, prepared by journalists Özlem Gürses, Ersin Eroğlu, Caner Taşpınar, and Masum Gök.

In the petition submitted by Akşener's lawyer, Gürhan Kocaman, Yetkin Öztürk, and Koray Aydın were pointed out as being responsible for the incident.

The complaint petition stated that Erkan Yıldırım was brought to the podium upon the suggestion of the then-IYI Party Deputy Chairman Koray Aydın.

Speaking to 12punto regarding Akşener's claim, Koray Aydın said that the person who would speak at the group meeting was determined by the planning of the chairman's office, the private secretary's office, and the protocol office, and with the approval of the chairman.

'I DO NOT KNOW ERKAN YILDIRIM'

Koray Aydın continued his words as follows:
“I do not know Erkan Yıldırım, who is mentioned in the news. Therefore, I have no relationship or contact with him. In this respect, I reject all the allegations directed at me in the news; while our country has so many serious issues, I do not take these baseless allegations seriously. I have not had any recommendation or suggestion for the person in question to be allowed to speak at the IYI Party TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey) group meeting to the Chairman or her Private Secretary. To this day, I have not made a suggestion for anyone allowed to speak at a group meeting, nor have I given any names. Because the Organization Presidency does not have such a duty.”

'IT BELONGS TO THE CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE'

Stating that the people who will speak at the group meeting are determined directly by the chairman's office, Koray Aydın said, “The duty of determining and coordinating the people who will speak at the group meeting belongs directly to the Chairman's office and therefore to the Private Secretary's Office and the Protocol Office. The names, national ID numbers, and contact information of the people who will speak are taken, researched, and pre-interviewed by the Private Secretary's Office and the Protocol Office, and their speech is ensured with the approval of the Chairman. It is not even possible for that person to enter the parliament without the person's name, national ID number, and contact information being given to the TBMM Group Presidency and a guest entry being made into the system. Therefore, all these works and procedures are carried out with the coordination of the Private Secretary, the Protocol Manager, and the IYI Party TBMM Group Presidency. The matter is this clear and precise,” he said.

'YETKIN ÖZTÜRK DOES NOT KNOW HIM EITHER'

Stating that he spoke with the then-Ankara Provincial Chairman Yetkin Öztürk and that he also does not know Erkan Yıldırım, Koray Aydın said, “I also spoke with Mr. Yetkin Öztürk, the former Ankara Provincial Chairman mentioned in the news. He also stated that he did not know the speaker and that he did not have any recommendation or suggestion for him to be allowed to speak at the group meeting. Since the matter has been referred to the judiciary, the information of the parties will be consulted and the facts will be revealed,” he said.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Erkan Yıldırım, who was listed as a “suspect” in the Ayhan Bora Kaplan file, attended the IYI Party group meeting on October 13, 2021, and gave a speech about “industrialists.” Former IYI Party Chairman Meral Akşener invited Yıldırım to the podium by saying, “This week, we are hosting an industrialist brother of ours on the nation's podium. Erkan Yıldırım is among us... Please, brother Erkan, the word and the podium are yours.”

News Source: Ersin Eroğlu